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Zo Ngeina Leh Vanzat Khenkhat

After 10 years – North East India Will Be...

By Thohe Pou

The North Eastern States of India have rich resources and in the midst of rich resources, the people are poor and just depending on nature. The total population of North Eastern states according to 2001 census is 38,49,5089. The literacy rate of India is 65.4% in 2001 Census and the literacy rate of seven sisters is 65.85%. The Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest literacy rate with 54.7% and second lowest is Assam with 64.3%. While Mizoram has the highest literacy rate with 88.5% and second highest is Tripura with 73.7%. Most of the seven sisters states are rural and the region’s literacy rate is more than all India rural literacy rate, which is 59.4% The Seven Sisters endowed with rich natural resources and relatively have higher literacy rate as compare to other states of India. However in the midst of abundant natural resources, the people in the region are mostly depending on nature and economically backward. The literacy rate in all the seven sisters are high and where will all the educated people in North Eastern States will be heading without any job opportunity in the region after 5-10 years?

Why there were bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland on 2nd Oct. 2004? When I learnt about the bomb blast from National Newspaper, I was not shocked or panic. I just said to my friends, “The time is coming that there will be many more bomb blast after 10 years if the central government is not taking the initiative to solve the insurgent problem.” According to newspaper report, about 67 were killed bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland and more than 100 people were seriously injured. It was indeed sad that many of our precious brothers and sisters were died and injured in bomb blast. However after 10 years more serious bombs are sure to blast incase the government of India fails to solve the insurgent problem in the region. The recent bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland is just the seed sprouting, which were earlier sown in the region due to some reasons. Many insurgents are sowing seed of bomb in the region and it is likely to sprout more plants after 10 years. The U.S. government is aware of the insurgents’ problem in NorthEast India and they want to solve the problem. However the Indian govt. is still dithering to solve the problem sincerely.

The North Eastern states are drawing the special attention of the central government in recent years in many aspects and it is slowly opening up the heart to understand the Seven Sisters’ problem. But my question is what they are doing in last 50 years for the N.E. people? The central government is now trying to bring some development in the region. However they are now helpless to bring any successful development project due to insurgency problem. The central government blames the insurgency groups for not successful development project in Seven Sisters States.North Eastern States before 1990.

Do you think the central government is sincerely trying to bring any development in Northeast? Many people think that the N.E. people are economically suppressed or neglected. The only gifts and development project in North Eastern States is only Armed Force Special Power Acts in last 30-40 years. Human rights are violated in different aspects. The educated people in the region become restless and helpless to get justice in human rights violation by the Indian Armed Forces. The region has high literacy rate but economically backward due to central government negligence. The central government policy of not recruiting the people in Assam Rifles from northeastern states in last 3-4 decades made worst the situation in northeast. How can the people from other state or foreign country understand the local people of the NorthEast India? If the Assam Rifles are the “FRIENDS OF THE HILLS” Why not recruit only the local people from northeast or at least 60% of Assam Rifles? As the central govt. is recruiting mostly from other states in Assam Rifles, the frustrated young people in the region have not other option but to join only in their own group set up by their local insurgent groups. Some people thoughts that only Arms can bring justice in this neglected and human rights violated region. Thus many insurgency groups were formed for many reasons or aim and objectives.Present situation in N.E. Region

The North Eastern States are in the transitional stage wanting to solve all the problems in the region. It can go worst or better after 10 years. The Indian govt. is trying to suppress down the insurgency groups by sending more forces and the innocent civilians are harassed, rape and killed. So instead of giving the information and leading to arrest the insurgents, the people hate the Assam Rifles popularly known as “Friends of the Hills”. Unless the Friends of the Hills are friends of the hills- with the word “Friends of the Hills” in paper or mouth and in heart treating the people as enemy cannot solve the problem in northeast. “Friends of the Hills” need friends from the civilian who will support them. But instead of supporting the Friends of the Hills- the civilian support the insurgents due to harassment and brutal killing by the Friends of the Hills. “Friends of the Hills” is commonly known among the civilian as “Enemy of the Hills” because the Friends of the Hills are harassing, raping and brutally killing the innocent civilian. The Indian armies need to deal and treat the N.E. people with love and understanding. The more the central government send army and rise the number of army to suppress down the N.E insurgents and killed the civilian, the more insurgency group will become stronger and all the people will only support the insurgent instead of supporting the Indian army.

If we go to North East region and take personal interviews or survey to all the educated people and common people, more than 90% of the educated people will respond that the region is Neglected Region of India. If we go to central government and ask them, they will respond that we are always ready to bring peace and development in the region. However due to insurgents, we cannot bring any successful development project. If we go to insurgency groups and ask them about the problem, they will say that we had formed the insurgency groups because the central government is injustice to our people and neglected our people. Now the problem is how to solve the problem in Northeast India? What will be the best solution now?
What will be the situation after 10 years?

Will the North Eastern region remain the same like last 3-4 decades after 10 years? I am sure it won’t remains perpetually after 10 years. The literacy rate in the region is becoming very high in all the states. After 10 years the entire insurgents group will be well equipped with sophisticated weapons. If there is fire in the house, we need to put it off or let it burn the house. If the seed is sown, it will be sprouted automatically. The educated and frustrated job seekers in the region are attracted to join in different insurgency groups and after 10 years, more educated people will join and attracted to take up arms due to frustration and to get justice. The literacy rate in North East is high as 65.8% but after 10 years, more than 70% of the total population will be literate but possibly only 10%-20% will hardly get proper job.

When people are educated, they want to live a happy live doing something good for themselves and for the societies. However if such educated people are not given the justice to get the job to survive. What will be the reaction? Where will they heading to? Especially in Northeast, there is a very attractive job for the educated people. Arms are always ready for the educated people. Money is no problem for the educated people in all the insurgency groups. Instead of dying out of frustration and hunger, many will join the insurgency groups. So will the educated people after 10 years continue to suffer due to absent of justice and negligence from the central government?
The people from other states will find difficult to join in insurgency group and they may not understand the inner feeling of the northeast people. But the people in N.E. will always attracted to join in insurgency group than dying out of frustration due to absent of job in government or private sector in the region. There is very good environment for the N.E. people to join in insurgency group. Every thing is ready there, it doesn’t need to form new group or new route to go anywhere in the world. More serious than job is the violation of human rights in the region, which can never bear by any human being. Another good reasons of join the insurgency group is the human rights violation in the region. If your parents are harassed and killed without any reason, what will be your reaction to the armed personnel?

N.E. Iraq of India or Switzerland of India

After 10 years the North Eastern States will be like the present situation in Iraq bomb blasting almost everyday when the state and central government do not bring any development project and take the initiative to solve the insurgent problem. It may be known as “Iraq of India” However the North East region can be known as “Switzerland of India” after 10 years if the central government takes the initiative to solve the entire insurgency problem and bring development in the region. It is high time for the central government and the people of North East to decide. I am pessimist at the same time optimistic that N.E. will be called “Iraq of India” or “Switzerland of India” after 10 years. If the central govt. is not taking the initiative to solve the insurgency problem there will be lots of bomb blast in North East and in some cities in India after 10 years. The last bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland will be nothing comparing the bomb blast to blast after 10 years. However the future of N.E. is totally depend on central government and the people of North East especially the insurgency groups. If the people have good job and enough food to eat, who would want to go to jungle with empty stomach? When we observe the present scenario, it seems there is no chances to bring any development project in the region unless the insurgency problem is solved. However there is means to bring any kinds of development project for the northeastern people from different channel if the central govt. is sincere enough to bring development in the region.

It is high time for the central government to bring some successful development project in the region so that North East India will be another Switzerland of India but not the Iraq of India after 10 years. It is also high time for the northeastern people to accept the entire development project from the central or state government. Let us hope and pray with our fingers crossed that North East India will be called the Switzerland of India after 10 years.

Source: http://www.sinlung.org/article/

Be Very Afraid:The New Generation Is Here

Written by Thangkhanlal Ngaihte

Last Sunday, I made a passing reference in these columns about one dilemma that the electorate faces every election: the problem of spurious choices. If there are four candidates contesting and you want none of them to be your representative, what do you do? Should it be the clean shaven guy or the one with a moustache? Or should it be the tallest of the lot? Or should you simply stay home and not vote?

This is a real problem especially in our region where people vote mainly on the basis of personalities and not on party lines. Many apathetic voters simply did not turn up to vote because they don’t know who to choose. They are thirsting for fresh water but are offered only Pepsis and Coca Colas. In the first-past-the-post system we have, though, the low voter turnouts hardly bothers the thick-skinned candidates and the parties. The one who got the largest number of votes (never mind if only 20 percent of the electorate voted for him) gets elected. Campaigns to introduce ‘none of the above’ option on the ballot paper are yet to be implemented. Isn’t there a way to register people’s disillusionment more robustly?
I am delighted to report, though, that this dilemma will not be there this time, at least in the constituency I came from.

In the Foreword I wrote for a tiny book on reforming education a friend of mine compiled last year, I said that the time is ripe for the new generation to take the mantle from the present, graying generation. And that education reforms will come about only when a new political culture–rooted in honesty and accountability– takes root. I am fascinated by the contest being witnessed in the Churachandpur constituency. It is nothing less than a test case–whether we are ready for the new generation to take over. And should it happen in Churachandpur, I believe there will be a cascading effect which will spread to other constituencies the next time.
I happen to know a little bit about Langkhanpau, the NPP candidate. I know what a hard life he lived while in school and college. I can vividly recall the times we passionately discuss the ills afflicting our society and how we tried, in our own small ways, to arrest unfair-means practices in College examinations in Lamka. If he is still the person I know him to be, he’s just the right guy who can initiate the process of reforming, nay, transforming the education system in particular and the society in general.

I don’t believe this is delusional thinking. After finishing his graduation from Churachandpur College, Langkhanpau joined the St. Paul’s Institute, one of the best schools in Lamka where he earned a name for himself as a disciplinarian and reformer. From there, he went to Rayburn High School as Headmaster. That’s where he really came to be noticed. In about three or four years flat, Rayburn was transformed into one of the most sought-after schools in the district. His capacities to discipline and influence are legendary. He never hesitates to innovate and improvise. When he left the school last year to contest this election, his students organize a mass-prayer service, beseeching on him not to leave.

All these while, and in the midst of all his social engagements, he pursues and finished his B. Ed and MA courses from IGNOU. That’s something for someone who works full time in a private school. I myself had some experience as a private school teacher and know what hard life it is.
Yes, he is a political green-horn. He exudes a kind of rustic charm so different from the kind of make-believe sophistication you see in typical politicians. He is something of an idealist. I believe his critics when they said he may not even know how the DRDA funds are distributed. But I don’t agree with them when they said he should learn all that before entering into active politics.

I believe we had had enough of sleek, cynical, too-clever-by-half politicians who buy up people during elections and squeeze them dry for the rest of the term. I am totally fed up of politicians who tell you lies straight under your nose and believe they can get away with it, all the time. It is time we elect someone we can relate to, and someone we can trust.

I put the question to him when I was home last Christmas. His answer was that there are officials like the DC whose job it is to do these works. And that, it was rather the undue interference of elected MLAs in these routine matters that creates problems.

Langkhanpau has a way of defying conventional wisdom. When he got married, he vowed that the expenses should not cross the Rs. 2000 mark. To that, his friends reportedly joked that he will have to add another ‘0’. Well, the man rented out the New Lamka YPA Hall for Rs 300 and bought Rs 600 worth of sweets for the celebrations!! The total expenses incurred on his part, he told me, amounted to all of Rs 18000. He is a guy who experience and know our society from the bottom up. He rightly believes that the first priority is to revitalize the defunct government-run schools. I am not sure how much he can do. But I know he believes he can.

His critics never tired of saying that he doesn’t know the trade of today’s politics, will be an embarrassment for a prestigious constituency like Lamka, and cuts a sorry figure when compared to senior ministers like Phungzathang Tonsing. There is no doubt that Phungzathang is a giant in Manipur politics. But, think? Can we say that we are better in a qualitative sense during the last five years under the Congress’s ‘stable’ rule? Do we remember the times we were braving bullets and tear gases asking for protection against landmines and underground menace? And how our powerful politicians did not care to bother with us or voice our anguish in the state assembly? Do we remember those boycotts we impose on them in exasperation and total helplessness?

If it is powerful and expert deal-makers that we need, why is it that we still cry out for the most basic services? I believe these people are really the problem. What we really needed is a new start. A fresh beginning. On a clean slate. A politics in which ideals of Christianity are not just the dress, but its core principle. We need not someone who can pull in lots of funds, but one who will make sure that whatever is available is utilized for the right purpose. We need someone who speaks the language we spoke and one amongst us. Not someone we have to look up to, all the time. Someone who have the credibility and determination to bridge the gaping hole between the public and the government.

My one lingering concern is on the general consensus that money rules and those who have lots of money will only get elected. Is he feeling intimidated? He answered me on a reflective note: ‘There is no doubt that money is a powerful force. But I wouldn’t be here if I believe in money power. Deep down, I feel a yearning to be rid of this level of politics among the people. People have matured. They want to be in control again. They want to own their representatives and not the other way round. And ultimately, it will not be money, but people’s votes that will decide the outcome.’

I am keeping my fingers crossed. The verdict will be passed only on February 23.

Source: zogam.com

A PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

By G. Khamkhokam Aizawl

One day in the month of May 2005, I started my pilgrimage to my heart’s holy land. As a wide eye pilgrim, my heart caressed the sacred soil where my forefathers once roamed its forest and all the genes in my body bears the indelible imprints of its sunshine, fresh air and its food stuff.

Every one has his own holy land. My holy land happens to be the only land in the world, lovingly called Zogam by its inhabitants. Here, the soil is a part of my forefathers. They fertilized the soil with their own mortal remains for the sustenance of their grand, grand children. Every grain of its soil bears the organic remain of my people and every ground demonstrated the footprints of my ancestors. I can see messages from my forefathers written in every leaf. In this wide world, there is no place like Zogam!

I crossed river Tuivai at around 6:00 PM and I stepped on the soil of Zogam. The road started to be covered by overgrown grasses. The surfacing bitumen could not be found most probably, I still thought, due to lack of light considering the time. Any way, any deficiency on the condition of the road was compensated by the usual satisfaction of home coming. At last, a village appeared suddenly.

On the outskirt of the village, there were two or three dilapidated, melancholic and apparently abandoned huts on the road side. In the dark, I could see a ghost like moving entity in an open door. Gathering all my courage, I approached the moving being. The moving thing called me in my name. He was the famous Home Guard ‘Sap’ in another time and place. He told me that the village was called Sinjawl.

He volunteered to lead me to YPA leaders and the reigning guardians of the road. After entering Zogam, I could not find the usual electrical transmission lines. The area was as dark as death itself. People call the present age as digital age. But in my beloved Zogam, time stands still and it is still the golden age of firewood! I was eager to proceed to Songtal as the village played a significant part in making me who am I now. But I was ‘advised’ to halt the night here.

YPA leaders of the village were as nice as they could afford. The otherwise pleasurable stayed in the village was completely scattered by the chance remarked of one YPA leader that children were difficult to control here due to absence of schooling! The speaker might not remember any more but it hit me like a ton on my head and heart. The next day, they saw me off at the outskirt of the village.

I was looking for the house of chief of Khuanggin village from down below. In my haste for reaching the next village, I postponed my plan of courtesy call to the chief for my returned journey. But on the returned journey, fate decided otherwise.

I reached Songtal village at around 7:30 AM. In this village, I spent three valuable years of my life more than three decades ago. The village that exists in my mind’s eyes was not there anymore. I could not locate that famous “Kawngmual” where young boys sang love songs every night playing guitars. Even the playground and the site of my previous school were simply untraceable. I should have died with my memory of the ‘real’ Songtal village than visiting this fake Songtal village. I don’t see any progress and development. Rather, the village seemed to loss a part of its hope and vibrancy. Everyone had left for jhum and worst of all nobody recognized me any more.

I nurtured an illusion that the village would still crawl with relatives and even would remember me. I thought that there might be some old women who would narrate to me how my father looks like in his boyhood as in the olden times. It is rather humbling to realize that the village may have never remembered me. After all, illusions have to die some times.

I am happy that Mualnuam village is more developed than thirty years back. The village may probably the only village that shows resemblance of progress in the area, however insignificant it may be.

At last, I took the much needed meal at Tuima village. It was a new village for me. Coming from the adjacent State created some sort of curiosity. Even though, I didn’t know anyone here, they were so curious to know what I did for my living in the place I came from and all that. Even the hotel owner refused to take my money. After much prodding, I could convince her to accept at least fifty percent. The gestured of good-will overwhelmed me. The financial involvement may be small but the message is too big not to notice. This incident is one of my most cherished experiences in life. I simply feel belonging and welcome here.

Well, every returnee prodigal son has his own story to tell! The memory of the incident lifted up my spirit even today.

The name of Lungthul village always evokes in me nostalgic feelings even though I was never associated with the village. Pumlong hamlet was completely new to me. New Suangdoh and Empai hamlets were even more new to me. It is rather difficult to imagine now that the area was thickly wooded with native trees like ‘Liim sing, Se sing and Tosaw sing’ in the not so distant past and every bigger Liimsing borne the scratch marked of wild bears. Time changes not only people but also changes geography!

Relatives from my mother side live here at Empai. I stopped for some time in the hamlet and had a cup of tea.

I saw some very young students with shabby uniforms. Seeing the economic condition of their parents, it is scandalous that children have to go in fee paying private school even in this small hamlet. I was curious what dream the children would nurse for their future. I shuddered to think what might lay in store for them. I wanted to get down from my vehicle and kneel down in front of them begging “Forgive my generation. We fail you, children. The community fails you pathetically.

The landscape between Empai and Tuivel River was breath taking and evaporated the burden of my heart.

The Maukot village of my childhood could not survive the wear and tear of time. I assumed that the tectonic plate of Maukot village moved south-west and stopped on the eastern bank of river Tuivel. So much water had flown under the bridge of Tuivel all these years, I think. After climbing uphill for some time, we reached Singngat village.

Singngat Police Station was converted into cowshed! I obtained my Tribe Certificate in the office of Sub-Divisional Officer in this village thirty years ago. Now, there is no SDO office any more. I could still clearly see in my mind’s eye Pu T.Chinkhothang (RIP), MCS sitting in his office down there. “This is your hand writing?” he asked me seeing my hand writing that looked like the footprint of chicken in the application Form. He might be turning in his grave seeing the plight of this village. The village was my childhood’s big town. It is now reduced to the ghost of its former self. My friends of yore had flown away from this village for greener pastures decades ago. They might be busied some where in the cities, looking for fame and fortune.

The famous late Pu Vungluai’s Khualbuk didn’t existed any more where we often stayed the night and relaxed our tired bones after selling dried chilli. I didn’t see in the street any ‘cowboy’ with his khukri in his belt. Singngat ‘cowboys’ were the terror of my boy hood. Luckily, there was a telephone where I could contact my family in Aizawl and my parents at Lamka.

I asked one young boy, “Where is Singngat hospital building?” He looked at me as if I were inquiring where to find Khupching’s Zozam garden. Once upon a time, there was a hospital in Singngat complete with its own building and staff Quarters! At that point of time, three doctors were there. I still remember as one of the doctors, Dr Ngulzadal, sternly told me in his quarter not to wear wet shoes. The big story was that I was fighting a war of attrition and endurance against water at that time. I was putting on wet shoes then as the shoe factories had not made spare shoes for me. The wet shoes were making sound like duck. As usual, I out-endured the water. Given sufficient time, the water in the shoes conceded defeat and retreated. The shoes became dry as bone. But, the good doctor told me putting on wet shoes was injurious to my health.

I knew that my youth’s beau lived here with her family. I convinced myself that I could not leave Singngat without meeting her. But their house near the Bus station was locked with a big Godrej Tala. “They are in the jhum”, some one informed me helpfully.

I was enjoying a cup of tea in a road side ‘Tea Hotel’. The owner of the hotel recognized me. Looking at his dimly familiar face, that painful experience locked some where inside the inner recess of my psyche floated out and consumed me. The anguished, the despaired and the nightmare of the time were the undeniable part of my history, our history. That summer madness of 1997 left me having acquaintances at unlikely places.

Kitenna ah bang teng kisam?

By - Phuitong Liim

Zomi te pen a khangtoto ihih tawh kiton in nungak leh tangval khut kilen a lamsiau khawm, lampai khawm hialhial bangin leitung sum leh pai leh hauhna te tawh i ngeina zong na ton khawm veve hi mawk hi. Nungak tangval a ki ngai a om ciangin kihel in kingai in, ki it semsem uh a, gual i khen zawh loh, pianna nu leh pa na ngawn in a khenzawh loh bek hilo in sihna na tawm in a khen ngamloh ding zah in a ki it takpi uh ciangin nu leh pa in deihsak hoih pipi nei tazenpi mah leh a kiitna uh mual suah dingin a kiteeng uh hi.

A nu phalloh zahtak zolo in, apa temhiam sikliam ngam in sangkil kan in innsung nusia in a Leel tawh inpua pial ngam a, a it a ngaih kiang a khenuai a sisan luang zuazua tawh a zuan ngam minamte ihi hi.

Tua banga phalloh pen zong a pai khiat ngam ciangin nu leh pa in maisak kik in, "a ki it te lah khen ding hi kei, a kingailo lah gawm ding hi kei" ciin kampau khat na nei uh hi.

Tua banga a kiteng teitei te hi ta leh, nu leh phalna tawh akiteng te hi ta leh, a ki it a kingai masa hi hetlo, nu leh pa in a gawm te uh hita leh kitenna dan khat leh zuih dan khat na nei uh a, tua pen kitenna ah a kisam te ahi hi.

Khanglui hun ah kitenna ah a kisam teng:

1. Tu: Lo kho ahih manun nasepna dingin Tu ki keng sak hi.
2. Hei: Singkhul ding singtawmna Heipi khat ki keng sak hi.
3. Puanbu: Zan ciang a silh ding puanbu khat, nupa in a silh theih ding ki keng sak hi.
(Hih a tunga teng pen numei tavuan hi).
4. Numei man: Numei man pen pasal in pia hi.

Tulai khangthak kitenna ah a kisam (i sak) pawlkhat:

1. Mopuan (The Dresses): Numei hi in pasal hi ta leh kizemna Mikang kizemna dan khat kisam sak pong. (A kisam takpi hiam thei kei ing).

2. Zungbulh (The Rings): Kei a hi ciin a ciamtehna khutme zungbulh khat kisam sak teitei. A pua thama kiciamteh lo pi leh pu te kitenna kipzaw tawh kibang. Zungbulh in kitenna kipsak ahia, a limlahna bek ahia, mikang ngeina i zuih pak ahia.

3. Mo nungzui (Bribesmaids) : Numei hi in pasal hi leh kitenna ah nungzui khat nei in, zum selna danin kinei hi leh kilawm. Tua a lawm pen a kisam takpi mah ahi tam?

4. A mun (The Venues): Kitenna mun ding pen biakinn sung teek mah ahih kisam ahia, innsung khat peuh, mun awng khat peuh hi thei a hia, ahih kei leh khuasung, gamsung mun khat peuh hithei a hia?

5. Kua teng cial ding (The Guest): Kitenna ah pawlpi mi khempeuh a kihel teitei kisam ahia. A kiteng dingte leh a kitengsak ding pa/nu bek kisam lel a hia. Lawm leh gual i kitenna a mu ding, hong theihpih ding, hong uap ding i sapnop a tuam in om a hia. I cial loh, i sap loh te hong pai i deih veve hiam? Mi khat nekzonna nawngkaisak in hong kihel teitei ding zong ka lamet ding ahi diam?

6. Bang thulu (The Theme): Kiten ciangin kikhoppi bangin kitenna thulu neih ding kisam hiam, ahih kei leh thulu neih sese loh a kitenna neih mai ding hiam?

7. Tumging (The Music): Kitenna ah tumging leh lasa khawng neih kisam sese hiam? Kitenna bek neih a, kamciamna zawh ciang zawh suk pah ding ahi hiam? Ahih kei leh kitengsak te in kitengte thuhilhna (sermon) ciltui kaai liang mahin a neih hoih hi hiam?

8. Nitaak ann (Dinner): Kitenna ah annek khawm teitei a kisam hiam? Mipi mopawi uap teng ciah sak phot in tua zawh ciang a inntek deuh teng leh lawm nai deuh teng tawh special a ann nekna neih pen a kilawm mah hiam? Mipi te in annekna nei uh (amau bekin) cih thei veve ding ci leeng, kitenna pawi a uap uh a kisik kha diam.... he he
He he..... a thei lo penpen in a theizaw te kuppih ding lamen in kong at mawk hi e.

Christian i suah ma-in nu leh pa in hong puisak ziau ziau uh a, amau hoih sak bangbang tawh a kigawm ahi hi. Christian suah zawh ciang ci ding i hi hiam, i nuntakna hong kikhek a leitung minam tuamtuam hih dan i muh, i theih, i zak ciang ci ding i hiam - i zat dan hong kikhel a. Zomi te ngeina pen a sia ahih manin a kikhek hi ding hiam, ahih kei leh midang cih dan khat peuh a hoih zaw dinga upna neih man ahi diam? Gualphakna, leh mi batna dan in ngaihsun i hi diam?

Christian suah zawh ciang mikang hih dan zuih teitei ding sa i hi tam?

Khanglui kipui bangin kipui pen biakna palsatna sa i hi tam? Gual bat lohna sa i hi tam? Ahi thei nawnlo mah hiam? Ahi thei veve mah ahi diam? Mopuan ciin mikang kizem (white dress) mah thupi pen sese ahi diam? Zopuan silh in hi leh hi theilo ahi diam?

Christianity kong lam pan hong lut ciang Zomi ngeina phaitam lam ah hawlkhia ding i hi hiam?

Hau Za Cin
Phuitong Liim
Note: Taken from Zonet posting

Kiten dan a tuamtuam

By -Tual Khan Suan (Suanpi)

Dr. Hau Za Cin in nungak hel dan a tuamtuam ci'n lai hong gelh leh, kei zong a ban hong zom nuam ing. Nungak hel bek tawh lungkim zolo ciat i hih manin kitenna kinei hi. Tua ahih manin ke'n " Kitenna dan a tuamtuam" hong ci ning ei!

Khanglui lai hun in ( a diak zaw deuh in) zi leh ta ding pen mel leh puam, neih leh lam en in na zong masa lo uh hi leh kilawm hi. Lungsim hoihna leh gamtat hoihna te na bulphuh zaw uh hi. " Mel hoih ning tui kidawn theilo, lungsim siang tho vabang pil pha zo ta ee" na ci uh hi. Mel hoihna leh lia leh tang te ki-itna na bulphuh masa lo uh a hih manin zi leh ta ding taktak pen a kiteng ding nu leh pa te'n zon sak zaw uh hi. A hih hangin tu hun teh, " Mel hoih ning tui mah kidawn dawn a, lungsim siangtho vabang pilna zong ki nene thei veve hi. Hoih mah si!

Kitenna ( nupa suahna )pen itna om khit ciang bek a kilam khia thei hituan lo hi. Itna masa lo a kitenna zong i ngeina sungah tampi om hi. Zo ngeina sungah " Ni nung zui, nu leh pa gawm, beh leh phung sung pan kila" cih bangte pen ki-itna masa lo a kitenna hi kha thei ding hi. Kiten khit teh ki itna kipan zong nupa kop tampi om hi.

Nu leh pa, beh leh phung deihsakna tawh kigawm a, kiteng te a dingin " Itna" a om masa hi khin lo hi. Nupa ding a hi lia leh tang te a mau khat leh khat ki it, kingai lo tuak thei uh a, a hih hangin nu le pa thumanna leh mai lam nuntakna dingah hoihna tam zaw ding cih a khensat na uh pan kiteng cih zong om veve a, a kiten khit uh teh ki it lua, kingai lua in , ki-it masa, ki ngai masa nupa kop te sangin a nupa kal uh nop tuak zaw cih bang tampi om hi.1945 kum a kibawl films khat a hi, " Without love" a ki ci sungah a film star pa Spencer Tracy leh Katharine Hepburn te nu pan zong WW II na sungah thu leh la tuamtuam hang tawh kimu kha in, itna omlo ( without love) pi a kiteng a hih uh hangin a nuntak sungah kikhen lo in kiteng suak veve mawk ve uh ee! Hih bang kitenna pen a ki-it lo tuak a kitenna hi ki ci thei ding in um ing.

Zo tangthu sungah kawl mangpa in a zi ding in nungak mel hoih " Leng Tong Hoih" a lakna pen langkhat itna bek tawh kitenna a hihi. Kawl mangpa in nungak Leng Tong Hoih i kisilna pan a kia a sam zang a muh teh hih sam nei nu pen mel hoih hamtang ding hi, va zong unla, ka zi dingin hong puak un, ci'n a nasem te sawl hi. A nasem te'n va zong uh a, Leng Tong Hoih a muh uh teh, a nungak i utna ( without consent) tawh kisai lo in la uh a, Kawl mangpa a puak uhi. Tangval pawl khat te in zong nungak a ngaih luat mahmah te uh, nungak utna om in om ta kei leh a ngah theihna dingin tha tang, sum leh pai, leh zawl ai tuamtuam zang uh a, la teitei thei uh hi. Hih dan te pen langkhat itna bek tawh kitenna ki ci thei ding hi. Kiten khit teh ki it, ki ngai in a kiteng suak zong om veve hi ee!

I it i ngaih pen te tawh zong kiteng lo thei lai hi. Cing Khup ( Zawl Cing a ci zong om) leh Ngam Bawm tangthu ah itna a thupi na leh itna bek tawh nupa ( kitenna ) ki lam khia thei tuanlo a hih na ki mu kawikawi thei hi. Itna bek zong nupa suahna ding a kicing hi lo zel hi leh kilawm kawikawi hi. Zomi te tangthu sungah lawm kingai a hi Cing Khup leh Ngam Bawm pen a thupi pen a hih hangin nupa nuam pen a a omna uh om kha lo hi. Mi tampi te in zong itna mah thupi sa in itna in na khempeuh zo hi ci'n nu leh pa thu manglo in a zawl tai bang tampi om uh a, tua te a kiteng suak lo tampi mah om veve hi. Tua bang in Love Hero a sem ngam te zong nupa kitenna ah a nuamsa pen suak khin kei ve uh aw, mate..

Lia leh Tang te ki itna leh kingaih khit teh, nu leh pa thukim pihna ( a kisap leh) la in kitenna zong tu hun teh hoih kisa zaw tek hi.A ki -it, a kingai lo pi, kiten ding hamsa kisa tek a hih manin khanglui lai a, nu leh pa ngeina zong pai lo, lia leh tang te lungsim zong la kawm in ki tenna pen tu hun teh a hoih pen khat a hihi. Lia leh Tang lah lungkim ding, nu leh pa lah lungkim ding tua khit teh nupa ( kitenna) bawl ding pen a kua mah peuh a dingin hoih mahmah hi.

A hih leh kitenna dan pen bang bul phuh leng nupa kal a nuam pen ding hiam? Nungak leh Tangval lai te'n thei in teh maw...... Ha!! Ha!!!

Hih ci bangin zong mite'n na gen e leh. Benjamin Fraklin in " Itna om lo kitenna ah, kitenna om lo itna om ding hi (Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage." na ci zel veh ee.


Source: Taken from Zonet

BPO JOBS: A BOON OR A BANE?

Written by Thangkhanlal Ngaihte

Saturday, 12 May 2007

The past few weeks have seen quite an intense debate in Internet forum like the siamsinpawlpi.net about the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) jobs–whether they represent a viable career option for the long term or a trap that leads to career stagnation and decay. It is an issue worth debating on–given the huge number of young people from Manipur (and Churachandpur in particular) who find employment there.

This is a sector that belongs exclusively to this new century. It is the ultimate example of global economic integration, and represents the fruition-at least metaphorically-of a wired world in which the factories will be in China and offices in India! The sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and it is estimated that by next year, the number of people employed in it in India will cross the 1 million mark. There is no census so far, but it is generally understood that the number of people from Churachandpur district alone working at various BPO companies in Delhi is in terms of hundreds. If you take other cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Chandigarh etc, you have the number spiking towards the 1000-mark.

One thing that differentiates BPO companies from other NGOs and the government sector is that they have no physical foundation and infrastructure in their place of work. So, there is no BPO Company here that produces cement or biscuits or soaps or even CDs. They do jobs-many of them consisting of data entry and transcription- outsourced to them by foreign firms. Cost cutting is the primary motive of the parent companies. Since they are doing American or British jobs, they have to work at the time these countries work and that explains the odd hours they keep. Technically, an internet-connected computer system is all you need to work in this sector. I told you, it’s a world no one thought of being here 10 years ago.

But, why should anybody be having a problem with this sector?

The important issue to me is not whether BPO jobs are good or bad per se. That cannot be decided on a single criterion–whether it is good or bad depends–like any other jobs– on the person, his nature and aptitude, the work and the company. What calls for attention and assessment, rather, is the impact the work culture may have on us personally and as part of a close-knit society.

Five years ago, most jobs we know (except emergency and other services like police etc) are nine-to-five, five-day-week jobs. In BPO companies (and of course, in many others like TV News), no norms are sacrosanct. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no holiday even on Independence Day! Your working hour may start at 8 pm and last till 4 am; or 2 am till 10 am. Your off day may be on Monday or Thursday instead of Sunday. What this means, firstly, is that your social life ceased to exist. Regular Sunday Church services are out of the question. How do an 18-year old class XII graduate, who’s been brought up with heavy doses of social gossip and Sunday schools cope with this?

Then there is the money. The salary offered to graduate and undergraduate fresh recruits is in the region of Rs. 8000, admitting exceptions. By our own standards, this is still quite a lot of money because an average student in Delhi can still do with Rs 3000 per month. How do we spend that money? Is it a case of easy money easy go? Do we have any saving schemes? Have we ever sent the extra money to parents back home? I am afraid that the apparent ease with which employment can be obtained and money earned may go to our own disadvantage in the long run.

Today, it looks rather old-fashioned to attend college classes everyday. It seems much smarter to work and earn money, and do college–if you must–by correspondence. The appeal of easy money and latest gadgets that come with it is overwhelming among the young. Hoping to cash in on this craze, more and more young people from home are landing in the cities without any definite purpose, but ‘to find some work’. They did find some work, but once in, they find hard to get out.

One thing that strikes me is that most people from our area who work in these BPO companies are below 30 years of age. The companies usually did not differentiate between graduates or undergraduates. Looking at these people I know who work there, I cannot help notice that most of them are young and dynamic people who ought to be seriously in their college studies. One other important thing is that most of those who join these companies explain it away as a stopgap arrangement, to be left as soon as they get a better job. But once they are in, they find hard to come out again. The companies too have no life of their own; their existence depends on the pleasure of their client companies who hired them. Most of the work is low-end IT-related ‘rote work’, repetitive in nature and admitting not much scope for skills improvement and advancement. In such a setting, it is no surprise that there is sense of insecurity all the time. And I am afraid that over time, these companies will produce a mediocre workforce and smart-aleck attitude, yet shallow in knowledge and understanding. People who can dazzle you with a one-hour demonstration, but wilt after a month at work. There was a hue and cry about two years ago when a survey published spoke very poorly of their working condition, and the widespread exploitation and pop culture obtained there.

Maybe I am too harsh in my judgment. Or I am wrong. I do know people, who work sincerely in these companies and do well. As some of them argued in the debate aforementioned, one needs discipline, dynamism, will to learn and adapt and resilience to prosper in these jobs. It may be easy to get in, but not so easy to get ahead ‘if you don’t have it in you’. And, yes, there is no reservation system to fall back on!

The debate can go on endlessly. There is no one person competent to play the referee. But the cumulative impact the situation explained above will induce in young men and women can well be imagined. The key point is that we, as individuals and a community, do not afford to neglect rigorous academic work, in all fields, simply because there are jobs aplenty. And just because there is a company that will employ you right after Class XII, if you feel that degrees and higher education no longer sells, think again. Whatever your field and your profession, what will get you ahead ultimately is specialization. After all, we need not all the time be the foot soldier. We can and ought to be the commander too.

Comments (2)

1 Written by neitham, on 2007-05-13 05:16:48, IP: 218.186.8.13

My 2 cents worth comment.

India is a sleeping economic giant and India also produces if not the highest atlest one of the highest number of english speaking graduates each year. The number of jobs that get outsourced to Indian offshore is amongst the highest (besides Philippines and Vietnam and CHina maybe) however not all these jobs can be competently accomplished by every graduate and therefore there are increasing demand of experienced professionals, especially in the Banking and IT sector. And does the economy of supply-demand still exist. And as for BPO's to me its the best short term solution to satisfy the ever increasing number of graduates. BPO's in normal circumstances will not require say a Computer Science engineer however any good english educated person could fit in very well in the BPO environment. And how many such graduates can easily get a job that pays well and that takes cares of their needs? If not for B PO where will all the graduates go to for gainful jobs? Having said that it is also prudent for all the BPO employees to constantly evolve and gain new skills, and always look for a way out for a job that will be more challenging and that could promote both social and professional career growth and satisfaction.

I've seen many BPO employees some are now even working in MNC banks or IT service providers and doing very well in a normal 9-6 jobs. What I am saying is that if one is ambitious enough life outside BPO can be better and more fruitful. And with the current bullish market this is the right time to contemplate a change or explore opportunities outside of BPO. The one other drawback in BPO is like the Eagles song "Hotel California"... You can get in anytime you like but you can never leave...

2 Written by mangsuankhai, on 2007-05-15 14:57:44, IP: 143.117.234.65

It is a mistake to that all everyone can and should go for higher education in a developing nation like India. We really need more BPOs to absorb millions of low skilled work force. To have a competitive economy and raise our living standards, we need to produce a lot technical and science professionals. Our education system needs to produce flexible and skilled work force to meet the demands of the modern economy. BPO jobs come to India because of the English competence of our graduates. It's futile complaining, "BPO jobs are so easy to get!" or "BPO jobs are not as permanent as babu jobs". Today it is follish to think of an industry as a physical location. Now all manufactured goods are produced by global chain of workers in several countries. Industrail headquarters are located on paper in countries like Luxembourg, Singapore, etc. where there are liberal or low tax regimes.

Zo Ngainate (Culture) Kepching Diing Vai

Athu: A mangthang thei dinng Zo ngaina lui te kepcing nadinng vai.

Atung aa thu tawh kizui in, ih Zo ngaina (culture), adieh-in ih Zo ngaina lam leh la’te amangthangh kuankuan ta ahizieh in, tua’te a mangthan lo nadinng in kepcing nading vai khat ZHLC pa’n ngimna om aa, tua tawh kisai in, geelna hoih leh, thatang, sum leh paai vai’te “Zo te’n ciengkhut asat leh sat khat” ci aa thu-tohna” a op (om) mabangh in, ih kikup ton thei nadinng vu’n, huna kang ngen masa vuhi.

Minam khat aa kiptah aa ih din nuam leh ahisihleh ih din zo nadinng in ih ngaina tawndan leh ih la ih lam’te limtah aa kepcing loh phamawh ahi lam ih thei ciet dinng vuhi.
Ei Zo mi’te in, ngaina (culture) te, midang sang in zongh kip tah kho tah leh cingtah in ih nei zaw uh aa, ih pu ih pa te ahun zui in lasa in ahun zui in na laam ahi manin, Zo la zongh nam khat beh hilo in,

Lapi, Laguui, Shi la (gaalla, sa la, shi-mai la), Shi-pusuoh la, Dak la, Lampisuh la, Taang la, Lamkiil la, Sawlnei la, Lakawi, Latawm’, Tomun la, Tuivai la, Lo-ma la (La kap), Tubuang la (Phaisat la), Haaidawi la, Sim la, Zawl la (Lataang) ci-in nam (18) bangh in na sa vuh aa, tua-ma bangh in, lam zongh 1. Khawkhaai, 2. Saipi khupsu 3. Doldeeng (dak lam) 4. Dai lam 6. Kuangtung lam 7. Khangtung lam 8. Lumsui lam 9. Lamguui 10. Phiitkenng paih ci bang in, nam (10) bangh na neih vuhi.

Ahiv’in, tua-mi la leh laam’te tuhun ciengin ei khangthaa te’n sa thei nawn lo, zongh laam thei nawn lo ci, lungnop lo huai tah in ih mu vuhi. Tua thamlo in mailam hun saupi khualna tawh kepcing na khat ih bawl sihleh, a sa thei alaam thei’te hing om nawnlo thei kha dinng ci-thu zongh, da-huai huai tahin, ihmu vuhi.

Tua ahi man in, tua-mi la leh lam’te video tawh khum (record) in a mangthangh lo in kep cing na ding khat ngaihsut huoi mama hi. Tua vai tawh kisai in, 1. Kep huoi asa ih om ei mah, ahi sihleh kep kul ih sa khol sih ahei? 2. Kep huoi ih sah leh bang cidan in kemcing leih hoih pen dinng? 3. Sum leh paai a tawm tawp theithei tawh bangci sep thei dinng aa, zah lo phamaw tuami sum’te hei pan ngaah dinng ci, thu nam (3), kikup ton dinngin kang suoh sah hi.

Leitung ah mihing ih hina (mipi tan nading) baih lo aa, US te’n ami leh agam thupi sah nuam ahi manin, agam mi’te tung ah phiengsieh (tax) saang tah in dong in, tua-mi sumte tawh a kumpi te’n, leitung gam tuamtuam te tung ah thuneih thei nadinng in nasem vuhi. Kawlgam mi hi na zongh baih tuan lo hi. Gamdang aa ih thalaw sum’te ih kumpi tung ah 10% kipie hi. Ih biehna pawlpi kiptah aa adin zo nadinng in zongh ‘sawm aa khat’ ih pie vuhi. Tua mabangh in Zo mi ihhina zongh baihlo aa, minam dangte tawh ih kikim nuam leh, ngaihsutna, thatang, neihsa sum leh paai leh akisap leh ih nuntatna nangawn ih piehkhiet dinng ahi hi.

Tami thu tawh kisai in, leitung mun tuamtuam aa om Zo mi te’n, ei kuppi va vuteh ci’n ka lam-en vuhi.

Kam Khen Mang
Distance-Secretary, ZHLC muvanlaai@yahoo.com.sg