Vualzou Hinkhua

"Khatvei kalsuan khelh leh dik in bangtan hon tun thei ale?"

Hiai khovel a i hinsung in siatni-le-phat nite eima tanding a omchiat hi. Tua banah itna, pilna-le-siamna, jongziak, lohsapnate vang in lungngaihni, khasiatni, lamdangsak hun thil theih siam het louh hun leh heh hun leh kipah hun ahong om a maban ah hong omtou zel lai ding hi. Tua hun haksa hun laite ah vualzou hinkhua i nei thei diam?

Thil khat peuh neuchik hin lian pi hitaleh kipaktu leh thuak tu a om nak khem hi. A kipaktua i pang leh a thuak tu om ahih bang manghilh louh ahoih ding. Thuak tu a i om leh eisang a kipak om ahi cia i thil hih hoih ziak in lungkham leh lung kia om mai ding ahih louh dan theih a hoih mah mah ding hi.

Thil tengteng ah a sia-le-apha om vek a, ei a ding in a hoih teng a hong om vek theih kei ding a, a sia teng le i tang vek thei sam kei ding hi. Huaiziakin a sia i tang hun in lohsapna bang a hong om ding a, tuahun a lungkia leh tawpsan pen thil haihuai leh zumhuai ahihbanah vuallel hinkhua ahi cih i theih ahoih mahmah ding hi. A pha lam ah lohchingna bang i hon neih leh huai pen a tawpna hilou hial ahi cih theih a, a haksa zo phu ding a kisak kholh a hoih ding hi.

Sum-le-pai, pilna-le-siamna neihte ziakin kiliansak ken a hon pe tu pan a ut hunhun ahon laksak theih ahih lam mang hilh louh ahoih, na sum-le-pai pilna, siamna na neihte melma setan vanzat ahih khak ding veng hoih zo in. 'Khovel mipilte vaihawm na ah daikilkal a mite tellou in a bukim thei kei hi.'

Leitung ah na damsung in itna diktak mu ding/tuak ding in kuamah kiang a kipan kinem kei hial in. Na kinem khial in na khitui a thawn luang kha ding.' Itna leh kidou na phual ah thil dik lou bang mah a om kei' cih thei inla itna dik hon pethei a, itna dik ahon it pathian lel ahi cih mang hilh ken.

Mihing te lungsim ngaihtuahna tuam chiat nei ihih man in khenkhat in hon sulau, hon lungkesak, honhehsak leh hon sulung nuamlou a khenkhat in hon tokphur, lametna honpia, honkhamuan ding a khemna le hitheih hoihna dingle hithei??? A hoihlam a lak a hon deihsak ziak uh ahi ci a pathian lunggel thei kiang a thum a dong manghilh ken, na kal suan khial kha ding.

Mihing din mun kibang lou chiat ahih na ah i nei zohdan uh leh hauhdan uh le akibang kei chiat hi. Mi bang a na nei zohlouh ziakin khasiat leh kingainiam tuan ken la vangse tuam lua le kisa tuan ken, hon deihsaktu leh honpia di pa na sukhasia kha ding. A honpe ding pa Pathian in hon ze-etna ah na lohsam kha ding. Tuahangin mi neih teng, ngaih tuahna leh septheih nang khut-le-khe na nei thou...Citak in kuhkal in vualzawlna nang a ahi. na neih zohziak inle kiphasak het ken sum-le-pai siatna bulpi ahi. Sum-le-pai deihtakna pen setan vanzat hoih pen ahi. 'Gou kholtu hilou in hawmkhetu ahi a pepan a deih'.

Mi zatam laiah sakmel kibang a vang mahmah hi. A tuam na om chiat, i hoih dan tuam chiat, na hoih luat ziakin kisa thei ken piangsual kikhel lou ahi. Midangte simmoh tuanken ahon siamtu a hehkha ding a na hoih na ni in atum pih ding. Midang sang a sezo a na kikoih leh zong ahon siamtu aheh veve ding. Ama kibatpih a hon bol ngen ihi. Sakmel hoih in thu a po tam kei, siatna leh utlou pi leh hunloupi a zi-le-pasal a kineih na ahi zo khanak sek hi. Lungsim hoih leh siangthou ahi sakmel hoih leh mihing te a hon cheimawi tu. 'A sia om ziak a ahoih om ahi a, a hoih om ziak a le a sia om ahi' cih manghilh ken.

By simbuthut

www.zogam.com

Men think sex, girls prefer kiss

WASHINGTON: Researchers in the US have determined what many of us already knew: women think of long-term relationships while kissing, and men think of sex.

"A lot of the findings might seem self-evident but what's self-evident to females is not always to males," Gordon Gallup, an evolutionary psychologist who led the study at the State University of New York (SUNY), said.

Lesser-known phenomena that the researchers hit on in the study, in which 1,041 US university students took part, included the fact that men like their kisses wetter and with more tongue contact than women, and that women place more importance than men on the state of their kissing partner's teeth.

Just over half the men said they would have sex with someone without kissing, compared with 15% of the women who took part in the study, which was carried out using "self-reports, not direct observation or experimental manipulation."

The authors of the study explain the findings, and even the act of kissing, in scientific terms that might put off die-hard romantics.

"We see kissing as an evolved courtship ritual. At the moment of a kiss there's a complicated exchange of information — everything from postural to tactile to chemical cues," Gallup said. "That information may tap into hard-wired subconscious evolved mechanisms that allow people to unwittingly make reproductive choices that are in their long-term interest."

The researchers found that a bad first kiss can kill a relationship, Gallup said. "A clear majority of male and female college students said they have been attracted to someone only to find they were no longer interested after the first kiss," Gallup said.

"What that tells us is that a kiss won't necessarily make a relationship, but it can clearly kill a relationship," he said.

The study puts it this way: "Perhaps kissing in these instances may activate evolved mechanisms that function to discourage reproduction among individuals who could be genetically incompatible."

The fact that men show a greater preference for tongue contact when kissing could have its basis not in eroticism — although the study showed that men found kissing more erotic than women — but science.

"It is possible that kissing styles that maximise salivary exchange provide subtle information about a female's reproductive status since saliva and breath odour change across the menstrual cycle," it said.

"In addition, male preference for salivary exchange could function to introduce substances such as hormones or proteins into women's mouths that may influence their mating psychology, and even make them more sexually receptive."
In other words, men's pronounced taste for French kissing comes down to them wanting to bed their partner.

Unfortunately for them, the study also found that women are less likely to kiss someone they think is only after sex, and that they "place a greater emphasis on kissing to induce bonding."

The Times of India

The shock wave to free press in Manipur

By Rongreisek Yangsorang

The eventful period we are passing through is not merely to see restoration of free press in Manipur, but also judge the pros and cons of the dos and don’ts to be obeyed by the press. The shock wave to free press in Manipur, consequent on the enforcement of orders by the home department of the government of Manipur has created a purely different si-tuation for the readers and media men, after the editors of different dailies had already been weary of constant threats and harassments from various fac-tions of UG outfits operating in Manipur. On several occasions, editors of the major morning newspapers were press-ganged into obliging hand-outs or statements of the outlaws to be published in their dailies.

In any movement as we have read, subjugation of the press, flagrant violation of human rights and rapes of women don’t win, and any course of such movement is likely to achieve the opposite of what it should—in the long run. What is to be realized is the unbeatable value of any movement which earns people’s endorsement. As the conflicting zones demand it, the Indian Army has built unassailable fortresses at different strategic locations in the NE region of India, even to move hea-ven and earth for any eventuality.

In the situation, editors, reporters and professional writers will have no other choice but will risk such venture. We all know that the opportunity to speak and print with even moderation of freedom is still by itself a satisfying and enjoyable thing to do. But the fundamental principle of a free press cannot be only that men have the right to express themselves. No journalist can be satisfied to print a newspaper that has no readers and subscribers. Journalism must be something more than singing in the shower bath or uttering soliloquies, however, magnificent to the desert air.

While thinkers and writers may argue whether painting exists if no human eye beholds it, there can be no argument that journalists write in order to be read. How is to sum up the mood of the readers of so small and a state of so varied communities as Ma-nipur after the shock wave? Perhaps by saying that Manipur, at the moment is profoundly disillusioned is real. There is disenchantment with the performance of the nearly six years old government and its much publicized achievements, cynicism about the leadership and scepticism about the future. The mood may pass but, for the present everything has conspired to foster it.

In addition, journalism is not a play without an audience, nor is it a monologue delivered to a captive audience which must, at least, pretend to be listening. As a matter of fact, since editors, reporters and publishers are men, and therefore human, they are liable to error and prejudice, and also vulnerable to stupidity. A free press exists only where editors can publish any story they see fit for publication. It is equally important for the readers to have access to all newspapers which are competitors and rivals as well, so that editorial comments and news reports published in very careful language can regularly and promptly be compared, verified and validated. A free press is not a privilege, but an organic necessity in a great society, but it is not necessarily the good society, but is simply a big and complicated urban society, say Imphal city of about two lakhs of population in our context. The government order that imposed curbs on the reportage of militancy-related activities, all gang and gang-warfare related stories, subservient to the sovereignty of the country and the state’s integrity to be published in the dailies has become a stark choice before the scribes.

Observing the proclamation of the home department of Manipur Government since its enforcement, and the reaction it got from the press and the sudden change it brought to the present Manipuri society, thoughts finally came to our mind of what we witnessed nearly a quarter of a century ago when liberal minded persons were few in number as compared to the present realization of the essence of peaceful co-existence of all communities. The reality of what the state government of Manipur advocated may be for trial and experiment, that may have far reaching consequences or not. Government officials always sneered at the activities of the press focusing corruption and the shattered economy of the state.

The Manipur press has given an excellent opportunity to the people of Ma-nipur, both of hills and valley to see whether the government is working or waning, and they understand it and compare its achievement to that of earlier ones. Today, the press has played the most striking role in urging different communities living in Ma-nipur to shun violence. Ultimately, the government has applied a strong hand to ban the publication of UGs related news in the dailies. Now, the idea of allowing statements of protagonists opposing the sovereignty of the country and the integrity of Mani-pur state to be published in the dailies is out. Certainly, readers will not favour publication of sensational and untrue stories of the passing events which will divide the people and cost the state dearly.

In our state, the claim shouted from the rooftops that the majority rules and its democracy is equal for all is not all true. Under this cover are a maze of restrictions combined with suppression of poor common people and virtual monopoly of all the means of information and news, making the pretense of democracy for all a mockery. It is the press that strengthens massive people’s involvement in a democracy. A very interesting part of the press is the daily pages’ letters or articles discussing proposals for improving legislation or rules, criticizing sharply inadequate enforcement of existing legislation, exposing irregularities in various government departments, and discussing hundred of other such issues. Fiery debates are, thus, made possible in the columns of newspapers, all for innovative ideas and what not. The extent of this process can be judged from the annual statistics of newspapers on the number of articles and letters the departments received.

If government officials are obliged, within time-limits, to examine citizens’ proposals and appeals, reply them, and take appropriate action, quick reforms are likely to take place in the state. Broader participation of citizens in managing the affairs of society and the state, continuous improvement of the machinery of the state, heightening of the activities of public organizations, strengthening of the system of people’s control, consolidation of legal foundations and of public life, greater openness and publicity, and constant responsiveness to public opinions will save the state from the present abnormal situation.

In our country, particularly in Manipur government news usually gets attention in front-page billings which often bore rea-ders when no accountability emerges from such pu-blicity. Readers have no trust in the leadership that clings to endless series of talks to pacify people without a marked success in the governance. The art is merely a craft to keep one’s position secure from break-down. Our constitution specifies clearly the guarantee of freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly of people for a good common cause, and ensures all available means to make those rights a reality.

Since the seven clauses of the home department order the scribes find objectionable and intolerable will not be amended to their satisfaction, the enforcement will little by little invite a long drawn tussle between the state government and the scribes. And the media fraternity of the state terms it as an attempt to gag the press in Mani-pur. Again, the CM, hell-bent on enforcing the order, said he wants to strengthen the hands of media houses to enable them to work without fear. The question is whether any such media house that comes under mounting pressure or severe attack of the outfits can be provided with round the clock fool proof security protection. Media houses are thrown in a situation in which they have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance. The Manipur press in all probability will find it hard to shut its doors to the UG outfits forever to avoid the risk of losing the job.

The press world, with which one is intimately connected, is that as the editor, one has its moral share of minor war over policies and preferences. When all has been said about the subservient role of the editor of today, the fact remains that journalism now is a no less powerful instrument for influencing the public mind than it used to be.

Life as a journalist in Manipur means not only acquaintance of the great but also the friendship and trust of the humble communities. Due to one’s access to the executive head of the state or ministers, one would be able to serve people who need help or guidance is the writer’s impact on his mind over the years. In a happy society, people enjoy freedom and free press. In simple words, it is a more equal and compassionate society so much so that the press is the sentinel of our liberty.


The Sangai Express

Word War : KLA activities invited executions: NSCN(IM) / Security beefed up after KLA massacre: CM, Troops alerted at sensitive areas

By : Newmai News Network

Dimapur, Sep 6: On the killing of 10 Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres T.Hundung village on September 3, the NSCN-IM today clarified that the former's criminal activities has prompted the latter to take up such action.

While owning responsibility on the September 3 incident, the NSCN-IM brought the abductions cases of a German NGO worker and Victor Keishing onto the picture in its clarification statement.

Issuing this clarification note to Newmai News Network tonight in Dimapur by the outfit's Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), the NSCN-IM said that creating terror or violence is not part of NSCN revolutionary spirit. "Standing by our avowed guiding principle NSCN have equal respect and sympathy for the neighbour’s revolutionary groups. More than anything else we have inspired them to take people interest as part of their liberation movement. Because revolution arises because there is oppression of peoples interests. But what is revolution if they become a source of public nuisance and come to the level of a mere anti-social group?", asked the NSCN-IM, while adding, " Revolutionary groups exist to bring socio-economic and political transformation. But no such historic event can ever take place when the very revolutionary groups earned the wrath of the people for its anti-people activities".

The statement then accused the KLA and said, "unfortunately, this is the story of KLA today. For all practical purpose KLA has become nothing more than counter-revolutionary force who practice an extreme and ruthless form of struggle without any convincing support to justify their peoples' movement".

The NSCN-IM also said that naturally, such group strives to use terror and violence to make their presence felt. But resorting to fraud and exploiting other socio-economic vulnerabilities should not be made the KLA’s affairs for existence. "They don’t live in isolation and it brings grievous harm to the revolutionary image of other groups. This is the tragic state of affairs within KLA. And the compulsion for NSCN to stop their anti-people activities which has also put the Naga national interest at stake. When NSCN’s spirit of accommodation is taken for granted and even daring to cross sword with us the option for NSCN is quite obvious", clarified the NSCN-IM statement.

The NSCN-IM statement further clarified that no revolutionary group of any standing will concentrate their activities in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and other fraudulence. "But this is KLA’s story and the truth has to be told today to clear the public conscience, particularly the Kuki community," asserted the NSCN-IM.

While recalling the kidnapping of one Germany journalist (NGO) few years back in Manipur, the NSCN-IM said that anti-revolutionary crime was committed by KLA purely for ransom. Former Manipur Chief Minister Rishang Keishing’s son Victor Keishing was also kidnapped for the same purpose of extorting money. This is no way for the KLA to justify their criminal act in the name of liberating their people from socio-political injustice, disclosed the NSCN-IM.

The NSCN-IM then philosophycally commented that revolutionary groups are motivated by human values and human rights. "But in the recent past KLA has become a source of physical and mental turmoil in the villages they operate, particularly in the area of the incident at Tangkhul Hundung. They created social nuisance and harassed the public beyond forbearance. This is no revolution for the people but counter-revolution because this messing up of revolutionary movement served the interest of the forces against revolution and NSCN cannot afford to close eyes on this wanton violation of people’s right of Naga villagers at the hands of KLA," alleged the NSCN-IM statement.

The statement then specifically narrated the September 3 incident and said, "For closer understanding of KLA activities on Wednesday the two vehicles used by KLA members are hijacked and not hired as alleged by KLA. NSCN Naga Army was compelled to intervene and what follows thereafter is KLA’s folly."

The NSCN-IM statement further accused the KLA and said that to the discomfort of vehicles plying on National Highway 39 KLA has been on the prowl to hijack vehicles. "The hijacking of JCBs was in the news recently. The hand of KLA is not clean in this crime, though the name of one Kuki group was exposed as the group behind. Their modus operandi was to hijack vehicles from the highway in collaboration with some like-minded Meiteis and take shelter in the Naga foothill villages to give the impression that it is the NSCN who mastermined the operation. As part of their ploy they go to the press to delink themselves from the crime.These are some of the few instances of the KLA’s sheer madness to survive but which other true revolutionary patriots abhor."

It then explained that the Kuki revolutionary groups are no enemy of NSCN-IM, adding, "naturally, NSCN has relationship with most of the Kuki groups including KRA".

The statement categorically said that by virtue of NSCN-IM's relation with KRA it does not warrant KLA to indulge in freewheeling movement that is not in consonance with NSCN-IM's revolutionary concept. "With NSCN still unconvinced of the political ideology of KLA except for its gang-like operation the operational style of KLA was considered nothing more than any anti-social group and thus far from any revolutionary group that deserve any respect", quipped the NSCN-IM.

"Lest the NSCN is misunderstood for the killing but it was the KLA who repeatedly throw challenge to NSCN and ultimately the final encounter day was brought before the NSCN and KLA when KLA on the fated Monday went too far for the NSCN to exercise restraint, and the KLA’s challenge has to be accepted though reluctantly", concluded the NSCN-IM's clarification note on the September 3 incident.

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Security beefed up after KLA massacre: CM, Troops alerted at sensitive areas

By : A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Sept 6: Chief minister O Ibobi said today security has been tightened to avoid any undesirable incidents in the wake of Monday morning’s incident in which 10 KLA cadres were killed by NSCN(IM) cadres at Tangkhul Hundung Khunou in Ukhrul district.

Army troops have been deployed along the Ukhrul road from Yaingangpokpi and Litan to protect passenger vehicles and travellers, the chief minister informed IFP today.

Ibobi termed the Hundung Khunou incident as very unfortunate, coming as it did just as the state government was gearing up for launching a peace process with the Kuki underground groups under specific ground rules.

Ibobi said every effort would be made to initiate the at the earliest on the basis of the ground rules drawn up by the government.

The chief minister also made it clear that the talks should preferably be held directly with the state government.

Speaking on development related issues, the chief minister said the government was pressurizing the concerned authorities to expedite the construction of the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway so that it can be completed within the current term of the SPF government.

In this connection, the state chief secretary and other concerned officials have held discussions with the chairman and finance members of the Railway Board, he informed.

While observing that progress in several power projects taken up in the state were being delayed for one reason or another, the chief minister said every effort would be made to complete the Loktak Downstream project within the SPF government’s term. He also expressed hope that the Thoubal and Dolaithabi projects can be completed soon.

Regarding the BT flyover, the chief minister said work on it has been competed, and construction of the side paths was now being taken up.

He added that the space underneath the flyover would be fenced in and flower beds planted to prevent vendors from encroaching there.

Regarding the Khwairamband bazar reconstruction project, the CM said reconstruction of Purana bazar would take at least a year, while work on the other two markets is expected to be completed by December.

He also mentioned that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, a waste dumping ground is being prepared at Lamdeng.

Regarding the strengthening of the state police, Ibobi Singh said the government is planning to to have at least two battalions of police commandos.

Observing that the state police was still facing acute shortage of manpower, the chief minister disclosed that some 1600 police constables would be recruited. Most would be to make up manpower shortages in the hill districts, he said.
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Killing has added to the wound : KNO

IMPHAL, Sep 6 : Coming out strongly against the ‘cold blooded’ elimination of ten KLA cadres by the NSCN (IM) at Tangkhul Hundung on September 3, the Kuki National Organisation has today stated the mass killing has come even though the memories of the killing of over 900 Kuki (mainly children, women and the elderly), uprooting over 359 villages and thousands rendered refugees from 1992 to 1997 are yet to dim.

Quoting the accounts of the two KLA cadres who somehow escaped the killings, the KNO in a statement today said that the KLA cadres had gone to Tangkhul Hundung on the invitation of the KRA. Their stay at the village was arranged by the KRA, which already has a steady relationship with the NSCN (IM).

After staying for two days at the village, the KLA cadres and NSCN (IM) men travelled in two separate vehicles to head for Ukhrul and meet top brass of the NSCN (IM) in order to finalise and formalise KLA’s link with the IM group, said KNO. The KLA were to enjoy the status of the KRA and the UKLF in their relationship with the IM group, said the statement.

However while they stopped for fuel, the NSCN (IM) men opened fire at the KLA cadres while they were inside the Jeep and killed ten of them in cold blood, alleged, KNO.

Despite the old wounds and the latest mass scale elimination, KNO wishes to look forward to a state of peaceful co-existence, said the statement and charged the KRA of abetting the IM group in eliminating the KLA cadres.

“It is also unfortunate that the United Peoples’ Front which acknowledges that KLA is a member group of the organisation (Press release of 5th Sept, 2007) tolerates membership of those linked with the NSCN (IM),” added the outfit. The KNO has also asked the IM group to come out with an official declaration and measures to remedy the dastardly act.
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KNF decries, seeks answer for elimination

IMPHAL, Sep 6 : The Kuki National Front (KNF) has condemned the cold-blooded killing of 10 Kuki Liberation Amy (KLA) cadres at Tangkhul Hundung village on September 3 and demanded an explanation from those responsible as to why they carried out such acts and what solution they suggest to remedy their act.

Whatever the causes may be, the Front takes such acts as a crime against the whole Kuki community, information and publicity secretary of KNF LH Stephen said in a statement.

The outfit also warned of giving a befitting reply if the perpetrators of the crime cannot come up with an acceptable solution.

Any secret deal or agreement with any particular revolutionary organisation to resolve the matter act will not be acceptable. So the perpetrators must come up with an understanding acceptable to the Kuki community as a whole as such incidents are the sparks that light up the communal flame in 1992-93 claiming thousands of innocent lives including women and children, the statement said.

Further, this incident should serve as an eye-opener for all those organisations and revolutionary groups of Kuki community who depend on or sought help from organisations outside their own community, Stephen said, adding that ‘we must learn the lesson from our comrades who have paid for their lives that having alliance with groups and organisations hell bend on suppressing our people in every aspects is never going to serve the interest of our people.
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NSCN (IM) sets record straight on Jalukie arson

Dimapur, Sep 6: The NSCN-IM has set record straight with regard to the Jalukie-Zangdi village arson episode of August 28 amidst condemnations aga-inst the incident from different quarters.

The NSCN-IM explained that the Manglumukh-Jalu-kie Zangdi episode has cast a dark shadow in the otherwise peaceful atmosphere that surrounds these picturesque villages. “Never- theless, the spark of small misunderstanding should not give way to spoil the time-honoured peaceful co-existence. Despite the invol -vement of emotionally-cha -rged reactions and counter-reactions leading the is- sue to be blown out of proportion, sanity should pre- vail to pave the way for humane approach to the is- sue,” stated the NSCN-IM in a statement.

“It is, however regretted that making a damning criticism of NSCN in the heat of the emotion without first waiting for the actual picture has really put the NSCN authority in turmoil lest the world look at NSCN as the culprit,” rued the NSCN-IM.

The NSCN-IM recalled that the history of Manglu-mukh dated back to the period of 1901 to 1913 which goes to testify that the Ka-charis are no new comers in the area. It will be quite unbecoming if one were to feign ignorance to the history of early settlers in Manglumukh. Historical reality of the Kacharis and Zeliangrong people will ha-ve to be given deeper treat- ment to establish sense of belonging to the native land. It is however to be taken into consideration that as per the records the Manglumukh village GB Domush admitted in 1977 that irrespective of Kacha-ris and Kukis they live in the land belonging to the Jalu-kei people. Customary law will be taken into priority for that has been the Naga’s guiding basis of any dispute including land dispute. Necessary customary references will naturally come into account, stated the NSCN-IM.

“Surprisingly, some of our own Naga people tangled with words by passing unwarranted statement on the issue complicating the matter further. The irony is that the issue has been given unfair treatment at the hands of various civil societies who shot off unpala -table remarks to the press against the NSCN. The legal dimension of the issue ‘encroachment’ was not pro -perly highlighted in the manner it should have been by going through proper process of investigation. And thereby the factual picture of the issue was left without exposing its true colour,” stated the NSCN.

The outfit also said that in any dispute that involves land the question of ‘eviction’ often comes up. But this is only the legal compulsion that cannot be avoi- ded in delivering justice, said the statement, add-ing,” the NSCN interpre- tation of ‘eviction’ should therefore not be given negative connotation. To evict the persons involved in the encroachment is in confor-mity with the customary laws and legal norms. But what has come as the painful experience for the NSCN is that some civil societies, including Church organizations have taken sheer plea- sure in condemning NSCN magnifying the issue to smear NSCN and mislead the thinking of the people on the motive of NSCN. But such unwarranted and exaggerated outburst to hood -wink the emotion of the people with vested interest is detrimental to the greater interest of the Naga nation leaving enough room for others with devilish mind-set to generate destructive game plan.”

The NSCN-IM then expressed its unhappiness saying that in the given situation rumour mongers on the basis of unverified statement emanating from some irresponsible persons have taken the upper hand disturbing the perspective side of the issue, and there-by, provoking incendiary remarks from civil society who matters. “This is the crux of the issue and nothing to do with NSCN taking recourse to judicial nuisance at the behest of any person in the NSCN authority,” said the statement.

Regrettably, the universal norms of putting up representation to the concern authority if it is of the opinion, legally and historically, that something has gone wrong in the handling of the Manglumukh and Jalukie Zangdi dispute, has not been followed by the concern parties, the NSCN-IM said. “It is best to be in line with the legal standard rather than exploiting the judicial scope and going for other means and sensationalizing the issue through the media is against the nation-al interest of the Nagas. But to seek justice nothing is too late in the hands of the NSCN legal authority. Consultation and deliberation on the issue should have been initiated by represen-tatives of the concerned communities in the NSCN set-up and not allowed themselves to be carried away in the maddening crowd of emotional turmoil. And allow the case to proceed after sending represen -tations for proper review of the case. This could have also helped the NSCN legal body to establish ethical standard with pure judicial sense,” suggested NSCN.

The statement then said that it was all the more unfortunate that the Jalukie Zangdi–Manglumukh episode has been “personal- ized to the level that has the potential to damage the functioning of NSCN. The issue of Jalukie Jangdi and Manglumukh is in NSCN hands and not in anybody’s hands. And therefore, the situation does not warrant making any persons in GPRN authority as the scapegoats”.

The issue involved having come to such pass, there is room for consultation and the door of “NSCN Collective Leadership is always open. In the process, the sanctity of the NSCN judicial authority has to be main -tained to the standard whe-re justice is not denied to anyone. It is however, to be cautioned that meddling in GPRN affairs and going pu-blic will be considered un- called for. Holistic approa-ch to the issue be entrusted to the NSCN. But due process needs to be followed”, said the NSCN-IM statement, adding, “NSCN shall live up to its commitment to stand by protecting peoples’ justice taking into con- sideration all established legal and historical norms. The NSCN cannot escape from the legal compulsion of executing its order that co-mes within its legal para- meter”.

Finally, the NSCN-IM lengthy statement alerted that “Nagas must face the world from the realistic point of view. We don’t live in isolation in this age of globalization. While histori-cal facts and other legal and customary aspect cannot be set aside, conciliatory approach should be the gui- ding principle. In this critical juncture of Indo-Naga peace process this should be the over-riding spirit”.


Imphal Free Press

Peace is discovered

By : Kh. Ibopishak Singh

It is within the grasp of the human intellect to foresee the concept of my intuitive vision. A highly intelligent philosopher could grasp the matter without elaborate explanation while a person having poor fund of knowledge and who is engaging himself in the business of dollars and cents and who is being attached to tight material opulence will be short sighted to world affairs and hence could not easily perceive the essence of the theme of my idea, howsoever well explained thereof. If necessary and if in need of fact finding my vision may be scientifically verified with the report of a space tourist as space explorers have had the extra education of the outer space and the whole cosmos beforehand. And, simply to see awhile and think a little about the positions of the stars amidst the starry sky, in a cloudless midnight will also help a great deal to the verification of my scientific idea.

Absorbing my mind in deep thinking, now, I already had the form of cosmic manifestation in my mind. My mind is thus expanded to a wide and large extent in the universe. Of course, I myself am differentiated from most of my colleagues who have learnt the same lesson of the solar system from the same class and the same school. For them the earth is still and plain and the size boundless. But, on my part, I can see thoroughly and vividly the another half of the hemisphere of the earth beneath my feet as if the earth is made of transparent materials. When the sun is over my head, sometimes, I see the moon and the stars beneath my feet. Similarly, when the stars and the fullmoon are shining overhead, I see the sun shining upside down, very deep below the sky on the opposite hemisphere of our globe. In the meantime, the feeling of myself being on board a raft which is sailing afloat above the sun, or inside the core of the deep sky is self sometimes. Actually, the Earth is always whirling and flying i.e. , revolving on its axis and rotating round the sun in its orbit at a speed of 18.5 miles per second restlessly round the clock, throughout the year. To prove such a motion of the Earth around the sun, I do practise at times, to see through my mental eye in imagination about the position of our world, just beyond the other back side of the sun afar for every six months’ period alternately. And, by seeing the total natural phenomenon viz. morning and evening, day and night, hot and cold seasons, birth and death of many living entities in their life cycles and many other natural calamities including flood, drought, thunderstorm, earthquake etc. which occurred simultaneously on the fast moving globe in regard to different latitudinal and longitudinal crossing points, all in a mix-up manner at the same moment- the feeling is free, hollow and uneasy to me as if my material body is spiritualized and enlightened. The same feeling may be felt by the other learned readers also.

By being able to see the world thoroughly like me, the world leaders would like to unite as one with each other instantly and forever, though they have their own different languages, cultures, religions and ideologies. Then, they will start giving full cooperation to each other as one, because, now they have seen clearly that the World is One. The present prevailing defensive and offensive war programmes of the past and present days among each and every nation might also be cancelled immediately. Further nuclear test will stop. No more questions of domination of a nation by another will arise. Projects and development works for the whole globe in all respects, viz- Education, Housing, Roadways, Job, Health, Food and Environment- will be carried out at a superfast speed. Instead of war among mankind themselves, only common defensive measures will be taken up to fight against alien lizards which may attack mankind one day and which will be the common enemy of the planet, the Earth.

The picture which is painted in my mind is not a mere speculation too. But, in the meantime, the unintelligent so-called scholars of the world might have misunderstood still awhile. Better to be made aware of the mater first are those world leaders who have not yet been able to go outside physically into the deep space; and who will be the superintendent and maintainer of peace in the world. For, their eyes are to be made big, they are to be magnanimous and the know of the world in the universe. They will be award of their full responsibility of doing good for all. They should never pretend to be ignorant. They will be assured of a higher perfectional position without greed and avarice. And, they will be followed later by the people, who belong to different categories after getting more extra terrestrial education. Thereafter, they will dislike to talk seriously about their so-called mother countries which cover the land area within some negligible square kilometers each. Above all, they will become Enlightened and attain Salvation without any religious ethics, and they are no more mundane men. Jobs will be provided to both educated and non-educated talents. Hunger, poverty, homelessness and have-nots will be unknown. Oh! it will be admired that, the world minus war, and without diverting more monetary fund to war games, the material civilization will be the doubled and if not may more times of the present.

The world leaders then, are sure, to lead straight forward toward the reformation of the present administration systems in different countries to bring about a better common system in a scientific administration systems in different countries to being about a better common system in a scientific way for the social well beings and a healthy One World. Within such an administration, all the people who are holding different ideologies will be understood, compromised, developed and satisfied in their lives; and, none will be willing to revolt against such a scientific administration and no one will be misleading anyone anymore. Enmity should not be known among themselves any longer, even in their dreams.

And, by learning the above context, even an arrogant person and a terrorist minded man will shed their tempers, forgetting their past deeds, forgiving each other; and they also will accept the necessity of mutual understanding, cooperation, sacrifice and compromise for an everlasting peace and development all over the world, less they should be blamed by each other and by entire mankind of the world. By then, they will have pity and unalloyed love for themselves and others in the same way.

So, thus, peace is discovered from inside the soil of the world. Common development programmes are to be carried out steadfastly all over the world and even beyond. Hence, everybody will love such an idea of peace finding process which would destroy war, before war destroys the total existence.
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Imphal Free Press

DO's and DON'Ts of a potential relationship

In any potential relationship, without the beginning base of truth, trust cannot occur. Without the development of trust, respect will never be born. Without a level of respect for each other, a functional relationship of love and commitment will not seed and nourish. Intimacy occurs when we are willing to share ourselves completely with another in this order. It is the gift we get when we learn to engage in a balanced, loving relationship.

Know who you are

To ensure a happy married life, you must seek a 'compatible' life partner. In common terms, the word compatibility means "like minded" or someone who shares similar views, attitudes, habits, dreams, aspirations etc. Before u seek your 'alter ego' to spend the rest of your life with, ask yourself- Do you like who you are? Are you happy with your self-image?

Know what you want out of a relationship

Are you clear about what you want out of a relationship? Or, you've just been going around demanding things your friends and family members have advised you to seek in a relationship? Tell yourself the truth about what you want, not what others (family, friends, spouse) say you should have. Tell everyone else the truth about what you want. Don't be afraid to share your vision and dreams with those you love.

Be honest

Truth is the first pre-requisite for building trust in relationships. Respect is earned from trust, and love is earned from respect. Never put honesty at stake in any relationship by concealing facts or being apprehensive about the consequences of revealing the truth. Being truthful to yourself and to others and being able to communicate your emotions frankly is the only way to creating a bond of trust and harmony in a relationship.

Work on relationship

Remember there are no easy roads, no shortcuts in relationships. Every relationship is unique. Getting into a relationship might seem easy, but sustaining it for a lifetime requires one to constantly work on it. It takes two to form a relationship and if one of the person is in the habit of acting on his/her emotional impulses and rushing in and out of relationships without devoting it sufficient time and putting the blame on the partner, it only proves his/her own failure as a human being and reflects their incapability to understand the graph of successful and long-lasting relations in life. Be patient. Be kind. But most of all, be empathetic and understanding.

Live in the present

If you are both committed to creating a happy and harmonious relationship, agree to start doing it today, without any judgments or prejudices about the past. Instead of focusing on the problems, be willing to work on the solutions. Let go off your need to control the consequence of each decision you take; Live from moment to moment, one day at a time. The true joy of living can only be experienced in the present moment.

Be expressive

Appreciation and gratefulness have magic in them. Learn to express your feelings and convey your appreciation towards your partner. Never let a day pass by without saying or showing in some way how much your relationship and partner mean to you. Never take a moment for granted. Express how grateful you are for all the good times you've shared with him/her and how wonderful the future would be with him/her by your side.

Be sensitive

Any negative, hurtful or sarcastic remark is abusive and detrimental to the growth of a relationship. Like a sharp knife, each word will carve out a chunk of a loving relationship that can never grow back.
Before you open your mouth, try keeping yourself in your partner's shoes & consider the source and outcome of your remark(s).

Agree to disagree

Life is short. Don't waste it on arguments that have no meaning or purpose. If you are truly compatible, you must learn to 'agree to disagree' and dissolve your mutual differences in respect for each other's opinions. In this way, you can laugh about it, and go on to the next thing. After all, for you to be right, must your partner be necessarily wrong?

Be forgiving

To forgive and to seek forgiveness is the greatest of all human virtues. When you finally learn to say, "I admit I made a mistake" or "I am sorry", you get to finally hear you are O.K. Similarly, when you say, "It's okay, I forgive you", you are not only showing your partner how sensitive, compassionate & understanding you are, but also allowing him/her the freedom to confess and communicate his/her feelings openly to you without the fear of being misunderstood or unpardoned. In other words, by practicing forgiveness, you are allowing your partner to become your confidante and best friend.

Be unconditional

Unconditional love is easy to talk about but hard to practice in real life. It is an inner virtue that holds key to happy relationships and is indeed the foundation stone for all quality relationships. To accept your mate unconditionally just the way he/she is, rather than trying to change him/her according to your own expectations & for your own sake is what is meant by unconditional acceptance. Instead of constantly cribbing about what you dislike about your partner and loosing out on all the happiness and good times you can have, try looking at and valuing all the things you admire about him/her and which bind you together in a relationship. Don't forget each one of us have our own set of flaws and nobody is really perfect. Including you!
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http://www.shaadikaro.com/articles_doanddonts.asp

Are you a Compromiser? Is compromise the only way to save a relation?

Relationships require attention and affection to sustain and grow. They mostly survive on an “action-reaction” basis. Many a times we come across the word ‘compromise’ as the golden rule for a successful partnership of any kind. Under general terms, compromise is defined as the action of “giving up something to settle a difference of opinion between each other”.

Compromise is the most easily advised and toughest to practice of tips to hold on to a relationship. We have to give up some of our needs and wants in order to make a relationship work. If relationships prevent us from fulfilling our needs, they are not serving us. How do we love others if we fail to love ourselves through self-neglect by giving up our wants and needs? It is a mistaken notion of sacrifice that requires a neglect of ourselves for others.

If it is not compromise then it is the word '’adjust" that comes back to haunt you in relationships. You are expected to put up with what you are not willing to, in the name of adjusting and giving space in your relationship. Whether it’s compromising or adjusting, in the long run we only end up draining ourselves and our partners by creating a mock marriage.

Since our real need for love is not met, we make demands of our ’loved’ ones to give us what they cannot and what we have not given to ourselves. We have given up our needs by attempting to please them and fail, because we become needy instead of pleasing. Lack of communication has a significant impact on how unsatisfied and unfulfilled one feels with their partner. It is undoubtedly harder to cooperate and compromise when a relationship is strained as one feels hurt and disappointed by someone close. It is much more difficult to exert the effort that is needed to work on problems and to continue, even when one may be feeling helpless and hopeless about the future and be unable to find the positives in a relationship. It is important to remember that we have as much ability to help and heal a relationship as we do to hurt and damage it. This does not mean we should again get back to the good old compromise-and-cooperate mantra to set things right.

A relationship, especially in a marriage, is like a glass. It is sturdy, tough, beautiful and clear when taken care of, but if it is mistreated or mishandled it can end up scratched, cracked or even broken.

What’s the solution? Prevention or Cure?

If compromise is no longer the ideal way out of an argument or trouble in a marriage, what else is?

The wisest route to a blissful marriage is careful selection of your life partner before you enter a relation. You should take extra care in choosing the person you marry, as it’s a decision that shall make or mar the rest of your life. Reveal your preferences, likes, dislikes, opinions, habits and expectations beforehand and match it with the other person’s. The unique personality matching feature at ShaadiKaro helps you in choosing the most compatible match for you from all of the possible profiles on the site. Selecting the right partner means marrying the one whose personality compliments your own, and that assures a more sensible match. When personalities match, understanding and relating to each other comes much more easily and naturally.

We no longer have to rely on people's abilities to compromise in the face of intense emotional loads. We can lighten the emotional loads with relative ease thereby facilitating understanding and cooperation. This allows the relationship to flower and produce love instead of luggage, bliss instead of baggage, freedom instead of friction. Selection of your partner in accordance to your personality and realising your compatibility is definitely the first and the best step to a harmonious marriage.

No one is perfect and that remains a norm. No matter how hard you try, or how loving and respectful of a couple you are, there is a disagreement once in a while. Such arguments should not harm your relationship.

Respect, mutual trust and love above all should be the guidelines to conform to and let your marriage that was matched in heaven be blessed on the earth.
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http://www.shaadikaro.com/articles_areuacompromiser.asp

AIDS funds become militants' cash cow

Kishalay Bhattacharya


Last week an unnamed militant group in Manipur issued threats to the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) saying that the organisation will come to serious harm if it releases any funds to NGOs working with HIV+ patients.

They charged the NGOs of misusing the funds. To make sure the message was heard loud and clear the militants delivered a grenade to director T R Kom's house.

''Since there is some external pressure on us, we cannot release the funds. The external forces tell us that you should not release the funds. And if you do so without our permission, without our consent, then you'll be in trouble,'' said T R Kom, Director, Manipur AIDS Control Society.

This is not the first threat. In July, armed militants had opened fire outside the house of the previous director to scare him as a result he resigned.

Real reason

But when AIDS activists are asked if the militant's claim of AIDS funds being misused is true then a new story emerges. Given the dangers, no one is willing to give any answers on camera. But off camera they tell the real reason.

At present there are about 50 NGOs working under Manipur AIDS Control Society and Manipur has the highest percentage of HIV+ people in the country.

So their work is to reach out to the state's 27,000 patients most of them dependent on government funds for treatment.

The plight of Manipur is so big in the map of AIDS activism that the state receives huge funds from the world over, including grants from the Bill Gates Foundation.

And this is where the militants come in. They have realised that there is huge money in AIDS and started demanding big haftas or bribes without which they don't let NGOs do any groundwork.

Pressure tactic

Now some militant groups want more money. So they are threatening the Manipur AIDS Control Society as a pressure tactic.

''You know these are life and death problems. What they actually want right now is to increase their percentage from the things they have already received from the MACS,'' said an NGO worker.

Just last month the militants had shut down all drug supplies in the state because the pharma traders and shopkeepers had refused to pay up Rs 1 crore extortion money. And Manipur had slipped into a medical emergency.

Only recently the supplies resumed after insiders say money was finally paid up. Threats like these have become so common that this recent one to the AIDS control Society only meets with a response of resignation.

''I am telling you, truly speaking, any state, wherever in India it may be, everyone is working under pressure. It's a normal phenomenon,'' said S Manikanta, Deputy Director, Manipur AIDS Control Society.

Hope the huge amount of cash flowing into militants' hands is stopped at the earliest.
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http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070025128

Northeast terror groups seek money, publicity

By Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Guwahati, Sep 6 : Ransom letters seem to be a thing of the past. In Northeast's new-age militancy, neat CDs of abductions and torture are being reached out to families of victims and media newsrooms.

Terrorism here was always hungry for money. But now, it seems, it's equally hungry for publicity. As the long-dragged out insurgency here becomes stale news militants seem to be opening up inside stories to grab media attention back.

This is new to the terrain of militancy in the northeast. A CD has been delivered by ultras to the house of these kidnapped victims in order to step up the pressure for ransom.

''Brother please come and take us away. They will kill us,'' says the kidnapped person.

Kishore Choudhury and his friend Sanju Debroy were kidnapped from a town near Nowgaon in Assam on July 22. A group that calls itself the Dima Halim Daogah or the Dima Army demanded a ransom of Rs 15 crore.

Complaints of torture

Later they slashed the demand by half.

''We can't raise so much money. Even if we sell everything, we won't come close to a fraction of what they are demanding. We heard him cry, asking for help. The family is traumatised. We appeal to the militants to release him,'' said Vijay Choudhury, brother of Kishore.

There seems to be no consolation for the family after what they have seen. Not even after the police assured them that these visuals in the CD appear staged and exaggerated.

The CD soon found it's way into national media, leaving the Tarun Gogoi government embarrassed, even more so, because the government is negotiating ceasefire with this very Dima Army.

''It's very very disturbing. I have never seen such torture. It's the first time they have tortured victims like this. Earlier we never heard of any complaints of torture. When they were released we were told that they got food and relief. And as everyone knows these groups are engaged in extortion they don't have any ideology,'' said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The CM started talking tough and threatened to pull out of the ceasefire if the hostages were not released immediately. But in this hostile terrain of militancy nothing is what it appears.

Unexpected visitors

As the kidnappers now threatened to sell off the boys' organs in Bangladesh, NDTV received unexpected visitors at its Guwahati office.

It was the commander-in-chief of the Dima Army, Dilip Nunisa, and he wanted to tell his side of the story.

''We have seen from the TV that two boys are very much brutally beaten up. In this case some agencies blamed my group DHD is involved. My clarification is that no DHD and no members of DHD are involved. We are investigating as to who are involved. I have already authorised my people to investigate who are involved,'' he said.

Police has refused to give this statement any credence. They say bigger group like ULFA use their own name in abductions. But groups in ceasefire cannot. So they fall back on trickery and lies.

Ransom is one of the quickest ways of making money, a strategy militants of northeast have mastered over the years.

The most conventional mode of demanding kidnap ransom was through extortion notes on letterheads of militant outfits. Then there were phone calls. But now they are using tactics used by global terrorists.

Organised extortion racket

The ATTF militant group in Tripura circulated a CD among tribal villages on the eve of Independence Day. It shows a police combing operation in the militant zones. This was a message for villagers: If we can film the police during its undercover operations we can also outdo them.

Stamped with a logo of Freedom Channel, the CD, police say was edited and packaged in Bangladesh.

In neighbouring Nagaland, the state with the most organised extortion racket, militant groups have started deducting ransom right at the source of income.

They have arrived at negotiations whereby the cashier of government departments pays for the entire agency on a given date. And if the money does not come on time reminder letters decorated with grenades are quick to arrive.

Now a prominent militant outfit, NSCN(K), has come up with a simpler method. They blatantly advertise bank account numbers in which the concerned people are requested to deposit their share of ransom.

Are these then just terror tactics and ransom threats? Or is this posturing to grab national headlines, from which the decades-long militancy is slowly slipping out?

Media glare

A few months ago in Manipur NDTV was invited to film a rare sight. Fourteen Kuki rebel groups, bitter enemies until now, were coming together and they wanted to display their armed power.

The leader of one of the factions explained that they have come together to fight a common enemy, the Nagas.

But why this new found display of solidarity? And this rare access? Like allowing us to film not just their martial posturing but even rebels listening to Bollywood songs and showing photos of their girlfriends?

Why do militants adopt such exaggerated measures to kidnap collect ransom or even combat? The answers are not easy to come by.

But on the surface it shows a need for publicity for media glare from which these militants perhaps derive some validity and some prominence that helps them spread the fear.


NDTV

KIM demands NSCN(IM) clarification on KLA killings / Hmar students rule out Hmar villages under Jiribam district/Christian Family Forced to Leave Vill

KIM demands NSCN(IM) clarification on KLA killings

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 5: The Kuki Inpi Manipur, expressing its shock and condemnation over the unprovoked killing of 10 KLA cadres by the NSCN(IM) at Tangkhul Hundung Khunou village, has demanded an urgent clarification from the NSCN(IM) leadership before the situation deteriorates.

A statement issued by the KIM said an emergency meeting has been held to take stock of the situation arising out of the unprovoked killings which could further lead to unwanted consequences in the already fragile relationship between the Kuki and Naga communities.

It expressed shock over the bloodbath in which the NSCN(IM) had slain the KLA cadres without provocation after staying two days with them at the NSCN(IM)`s own invitation at Hundung Khunou village.

The meet strongly condemned the unprovoked killing, and demanded a clarification from the NSCN(IM) as why it had resorted to the cold-blooded slaughter at a time when mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence is the need of the hour.

It should be known that such kind of unprovoked and pre-meditated murder could trigger another communal flare-up, the statement said.

The act is considered very much detrimental for both Nagas and Kukis which could result in mutual distrust and disharmony, it said.

The KIM also wanted the GoI-NSCN ceasefire monitoring cell to look into the case whether it goes against and negates the terms and conditions of the ceasefire or whether it is beyond the purview of the ceasefire.

It further urged the NSCN to clarify and clean up their act at the earliest possible in the interest of peace and harmony.

The KIM has also appealed to all UG groups to refrain from any retaliatory action which could escalate the situation and produce further undesirable consequences.

The Kuki Students Organisation, general headquarters, Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills, Kuki Chief`s Association, Sadar Hills, and the Kuki Movement for Human Rights have also issued a joint statement strongly condemning the senseless and cold blooded murder of 10 KLA/KLO cadres by the NSCN(IM), terming it as a renewal of the ethnic cleansing the NSCN had pursued in past decades.

the statement demanded that the leadership of the NSCN(IM) should clarify to the general public the reasons behind the barbaric act of executing the KLA/KLO cadres after inviting them to the village.

It has also demanded a clear cut clarification from the chairman of the monitoring cell of the government of India whether there is room for such inhuman activities in the ground rule of the cease fire while talks are going on between the government of India and the NSCN(IM).

The statement also reminded the leadership of the Tangkhul Naga civil society, and the NSCN(IM) to cautiously handle the fragile relationship with the Kuki people.
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Hmar students rule out Hmar villages under Jiribam district

Robert Lalmalsawm Sungte

Churachandpur, Sep 5: The Hmar Students Association, HSA, has called upon Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh for an `informed decision` on the proposed Jiribam district. A memorandum in this regard was submitted to Singh for his `immediate` consideration on the stand taken by the students on August 30.

Expressing apprehensions at the creation of the new Jiribam district, which will be dominated by a majority community, in south western Manipur they said, "The creation of a full fledged Jiribam district will cause loss of a huge number of tribal indigenous villages and land."

"No Hmar villages in the SDC Jiribam and Churachandpur district will be allowed to merge into Jiribam district without the prior consent of the Hmar people," it added.

Sending strong warning to the state government the memorandum said, "Any challenges and threats to the people, identity, land and future shall be met with appropriate action and force."

The students body asked the government to take the "free consent" of all the Hmar villages which fall under the proposed new district before they are brought under it adding that "any consent must be free from external manipulation, interference and coercion."

The students body also pledged to protect the Hmar tribal "identity" stating that even "an inch of our land shall not be surrendered" as "we (HSA) have taken over the role of a custodian of the future security of our tribe."

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India seeks clash report between KLA & NSCN

Tuithraphai, Sep 6 : The Union home ministry has asked the Manipur government to submit a detailed report on the clash between the NSCN (I-M) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in Ukhrul district on Monday.

The NSCN (I-M) men gunned down 10 militants of the KLA in an encounter at Tangkhul Hundung, nearly 70km south of Litan police station in Ukhrul, home of NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah, on Monday. The NSCN (I-M) men also took away the weapons from the slain KLA militants.

The district police have registered a case and said they were trying to identify the NSCN (I-M) men involved in the killings.

The KLA has asked the Naga outfit to return the snatched weapons and pay fines according to tribal laws.

The attack on the KLA has angered the Kuki community. The Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills, Kuki Chiefs’ Association, Kuki Movement for Human Rights and Kuki Students Organisation strongly condemned the attack.

“The Centre has taken a very serious view of the incident and wants a detailed report from the state government. A report would be sent in the next few days,” an official source said today.

The director general of police, Y. Joykumar Singh, reviewed the situation yesterday and asked the district police to submit a report on the incident for forwarding it to the Centre.

The latter is reportedly worried that the incident could trigger a rerun of the nineties’ communal clash between the Nagas and the Kukis.

Turf war between the two militant outfits had led to a communal clash in the nineties, resulting in the death of hundreds of people. The Union home ministry has also directed the state government to take all possible measures to prevent a rerun of the communal clash.

An official source, however, said chances of a communal backlash in the wake of the Monday’s killings were remote. However, measures have been taken to prevent any eventuality, he said.

While the NSCN (I-M) is holding talks with the Centre for the past 10 days, the KLA is one of the 10 militants outfits set to sign a truce. The KLA had entered into a suspension of operations agreement with the security forces in August 2005.

The Okram Ibobi Singh government is about to join the suspension of operation agreement between the security forces and the tribal militant outfits, mostly belonging to the Kuki communities.

The militant groups are Zomi Revolutionary Army, Hmar Peoples Convention (Democratic), Kuki National Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army, Kuki Liberation Army, Kuki National Front (Samuel), Kuki National Front (Military Council), Kuki National Front (Zougam), Kuki National Front (President) and United Kuki Liberation Front.


Telegraph
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Christian Family Forced to Leave Village in Manipur

By Madhu Chandra

A Rongmei Christian family was forced to leave Chingmeirong Rongmei Village in Imphal, the capitol city of Manipur state. Their refusal to leave the village caused tension among the community.

Sources told the All India Christian Council that Mr. Kaphun Malangmei formerly was a follower of the Tingkao Ragwang Chaprik sect of the Rongmei indigenous religion. He adopted Christianity along with his family members a few months ago.

According to Makulin Remei, spokesperson of Chingmeirong Rongmei Pei Authority, Mr. Kaphun’s decision to adopt Christianity and remain in the village was a violation of the village’s norms.

This violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom to adopt, practice and propagate religion. A local rule that requires Christians to vacate from Rongmei Villages cannot be above the fundamental rights provided in Indian Constitution.

Rongmei Christian minorities in Rongmei villages and Meitei Christians in Manipur valley have faced discrimination in the state from religious fanatics.

Dr. Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, appealed to Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, in a press conference held at Imphal on March 17, 2005. Shri. O. Ibobi promised safety and protection of Christian minorities on the State Assembly floor on March 18, 2005. “In spite of assurances by state leaders, Christian minorities have been constantly threatened by fanatic groups in the state,” said Dr. Paul.

Nagaland State Bharatiya Janata Party President, Mr. Ato Yepthomi told Christian Council that his party will appeal to Manipur Government to ensure the safety and protection of Rongmei and Meitei Christians.

Manipur has a Christian population of 35% yet the Meitei and Rongmei Christians suffer persecution from fanatic groups belonging to their own communities. In 2005, a three month old dead body was removed from the Christian graveyard in Imphal West and church bodies at Phaknung, Lamding, Yumnam Khunou were burnt down by the villagers. Police forces had to wait for pressure from higher authorities and human rights agencies to fulfill their duties to protect the minority in the state.

Speaking about the historical church building at Kangla at Imphal city, Shri Rishang Keishing - former Chief Minister of the state and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) presently told to Christian Council that Manipur Government must preserve the church building at Kangla, which lays vacant after Assam Rifles vacated the place. Mr. Keishing said that it symbolizes the unity in diversity of the state.

NIT at Lamphel Pat

By Lalkhogin Gangte

When we are having our morning tea every day with so much bad news of blood and gore, killings, maimings and what not, the news that the NIT is to be established in our State is indeed an exhilarating piece of good news. We all welcome it because technology is the buzz-word and the most “in” thing everywhere today. However, the Government seem to welcome it more for the opportunity it offers to kill two birds with one stone than for the institute itself.

We were so happy that the NIT was the subject matter of discussions everywhere, be it in office chambers or tea stalls. We prefer suggestions as to how best it can serve our long-term interests. Keeping the socio-political reality of the State in mind, a few knowledgeable gentlemen suggested as to where it may best be located. A landowner in Churachandpur was reported as ready to donate his land for its site. An educationist from Chura-chandpur in his well-calibrated article highlighted in The Sangai Express the advisability and wisdom in locating it in Tamenglong District first to obviate its known over-all backwardness and secondly to remedy the general feelings of alienation and neglect that obtained in hill areas of the State. His suggestion presupposes use of the NIT as instruments of development and state-craft.

A doctor from Imphal East district also suggested its location in that district by rightly pointing out that, of the twin capital districts, Imphal East is much neglected and lagging behind Imphal West district in all respects. He also iterated in the said same daily paper the unduly high concentration of many infrastructures in Imphal West District chock-a-block and strongly pleaded for its location on a cluster of molehills in Imphal East District which can be easily developed for the site of the Institute.

Another strong point of his proposal is that there may be no question of eviction of landowners, which is the attendant drawback of the project, be it at Kiyamgei, Lilong or Lamphelpat Lourups. Another relevant point that crops up in mind is that availability of suitable sites, as such, in hill areas may be taken for granted. As for example, my own village land in Nungba area of Tamenglong District is about 9km x 7km and there are so many such villages in each of the hill districts. If at all necessary, more than ten NIT’s can be established in each of the hill districts.

However, the Government of Manipur refused to locate it either in Imphal East district or in hill areas on the pretext of lack of security and, after dropping Kiyamgei and Lilong Lourups, decided to locate it in Lamphelpat Lourup, inclusive of Langol foothills from Games Village in the west to the boundary of Sinam Leikai, Than- gmeiband in the east, necessitating eviction of about 3000 people inclusive of foothill residents, agriculturists and those who owned residential plots but not yet reside there.

The affected people mostly consist of tribals from hill districts. For them the NIT is fast becoming a curse. This automatically means that only such projects which the Govt.. considered as to require no security can be established in hill areas. Whether there ever will be such a project or not in the future is anybody’s guess. What a sound, beautiful and wise development strategy it is! This mindset of the Government means that 92% of the total land area of the State is unfit and only 8% is fit for establishment of any infrastructure worth the name. What a bright future the Manipuri tribals have!

If security is the real impediment the Government, in consultation with the Centre can set up any security posts wherever it found necessary, on temporary or permanent basis, is known to all.

This time the excuse is lack of security, next time it may be lack of road connectivity or electrification or good water supply or anything.

Let’s digress a little. The tribal themselves particularly in Churachandpur and Chandel districts feel that there is acute lack of security for them, not for the NIT, from the depredations of valley underground elements who rap-ed their womenfolk with impunity and laid land- mines causing sudden death or loss of limbs to so many sole breadwinners of indigent families, with the State Govt remaining unconcerned to take cognizance of their crimes and to pursue the cases to logi-cal conclusions. It may be guessed as to what retri-butive actions the Government must have taken and what sort of mass reaction may be there in case hill underground elements happen to commit these crimes against the women and men of valley area. If someone alleges that the State Govt is hand in glove with valley underground elements in their crimes against humanity, it may require too many Meira-paibis to hold too many Wakatmiphams to refute the allegation. In utter fear and helplessness, they fled for their chastity and lives in Mizorarn, Moreh or wherever they think they may be safe from their fellow Manipuris who have done to them what the Japanese had done to the Chinese during their war.

To say that the Institute is located in valley area as there is more security is the lamest of excuses, if it can be so worded, a total humbug and travesty of truth. As for example, was it because of good security that the only Central Library of the State got reduced to ashes? If the building located next to the compound of the State Governor could be so free-ly devastated by miscreants will it be realistic to say that there is good security in valley area? or, what is happening to the fly-over which passes through the very heart of Imphal? or, is it due to good security that Minister/MLAs were ambushed in Wangoi area in broad daylight and the weapons of security guards snat-ched so easily by whom we all know? or so many hand grenades and le-thode bombs were so frequently hurled into the compounds of so many re-sidential bungalows in Im-phal and its suburbs? or, so many UG elements were detected and captured by the police from the official residences of so many (dis)honourable MLAs at Babupara? If I am not wrong, the chain of these happenings may be poor manifestations of genuine peace in valley area. The fact is not due to want of security but because of the anti-hill mindset of the Govt. It may surely be because of disappointments and heart-breaks such as this, which have accumulated layers upon layers all through the years, that in total frustration the hill areas reverberate with murmurings of being neglec-ted in all kinds of development schemes. To blame them off-handedly may be missing the whole point and beating about the thick bush of their deep despair; empty slogans, make-believe feasts and festivals and much-ado-about-nothing seminars and colour slides in the valley notwithstanding.

If the Govt was not considering the valley area alone as real Manipur and if on the contrary it was having same concern for development of the entire State as other State Govts do in the region such as, Mizoram or Meghalaya, etc. the feeling of neglect and alienation would not have arisen from any part of the State.

As for example, not far from Bungpilon Village, Thanlon area, Churachandpur District, across the Tuivai river, there is a small village of Mizoram. It is as far from Aizawl as is Tipaimukh from Imphal. It can be seen from Bungpilon village over the Tuivai Valley. When the sun sets, the entire village is fully electrified every evening. It was on a hilltop and very beautiful to look at. Bungpilon Villagers were naturally envious of that village. They said that PHC, High School, all-weather road connectivity, water supply, etc. are provided to the village by the Mizoram Government. If the Government of Manipur were providing these basic necessities to the furthest village in, say, Ukhru1 district on the border of Myanmar, it will be something like that. It is the same with one of the farthest small villages in western Mizoram on the Bangladesh border. It is Bualpui village where my relative is a teacher. However, even many of the sub-divisional headquarters of Manipur, let alone the interior villages, are still not having these basic necessities even today. It may be noted that Mizoram Government is getting less crores of rupees from the Centre than Manipur and became a full-fledged State after us. Yet their villages are so much more developed than ours. This is so because of the mindset of the Mizoram Govt. Someone may argue that so many crores of rupees have been sanctioned by Manipur Govt for development of hill areas and, if it still is not upto the mark in development, it is their fault, not the State Government’s. No, it’s not their fault, it’s the fault of the State Government. It’s the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the funds it sanctioned are properly utilised. What is meant by State Govt here is not, however, the present Govt alone; it includes all the State Govts of the past. All these are mentioned to show that the abysmal picture of under development of hill areas, including the present case of NIT location, is the direct result of the narrow and short-sighted mindset of our State Govt in neglecting the hill areas. Through its acts of omissions and commissions, the State Govt inadvertently sow the seeds of communal virus and disequilibrium in the otherwise mutually understanding society.

The State Govt’s propensity to do things whimsically is proverbial. As for example, it declares an organisation as criminal one fine morning and smugly sign an MOU with it the next day. Who knows that it may draw a line between the homes of the Meiteis and the tribals at Langol foothills leaving the former free and the latter for eviction. There was a time in the 70’s when separate provisions were made in the Budget specifically for each of the hill districts. However the heads of the departments in Imphal always diverted the funds earmarked for the districts with impunity on flimsy justifications. The officers in charge of the different departments in the districts have had threadbare discussions of such matters in their monthly district-level meetings. In appearance, the hill areas were well taken care of but in reality, it’s the opposite. This was my experience when I was posted in Churachandpur in the 70’s. It’s not a question of arguments. The ground reality of the abject backwardness of hill districts even now is proof of our wrong and lopsided development policies. This very mindset is at present influencing on where to locate the NIT.

However, it has to be noted that the mindsets of the State Govt and the common people of the valley area are poles apart in regard to the hill people. The common peoples of valley and hill areas have mutual love for each other. One day there was a fire accident at a house at the junction of Sinam Leikai and Thangmeiband Leikai. The house and all the possessions of the tribal tenants were reduced to ashes. The common people of Sinam Leikai and Thangmeiband Leikai spontaneously donated whatever the tribal fire victims needed such as pots, plates, rugs, shawls, rice, sugar, tea leaves, fire-wood, milk, dal, salt, chilly, oil, spices, spoons, vegetables, etc. They were also allowed to stay in the Ima Panthoibi Hall till they could make alternative arrangement. People to people relationship may be like this everywhere in the State. But the State Govt is, through its omissions and commissions, preventing social cohesion and emotional oneness in the State. This is more than unfortunate for all of us. The mature people who can discern the subtle innuendos in the socio-development policies of the State Govt suspect that there must be a hidden agenda in the Cabinet decision for location of the NIT at Lamphelpat Lourup ominously including Langol foothill residential areas necessitating eviction of so many patta-Iand owners. Selection of site for the NIT seems to have been manipulated in such a way that the coming into existence of more Majorkhuls, Kakhulongs, Lambulanes, Deulahlanes, etc. in valley area is prevented once for all. The turn of future events will prove whether this suspicion is unfounded and baseless or not. How good it will be for the State as a whole if this suspicion is proved groundless by future events.

It may be pertinent to mention that major States and the Centre handle similar cases with the touch of humanity by following a new development strategy known as “Development With A Human Face”. This strategy is the result of their experience in acquiring extensive areas of land at Singur, West Bengal, for the Small Car Project of the Tata Company and at Salboni for the ISW Bengal Steel Project. Most of the major political parties, powerful Trade Unions and “Morchas” support this humanitarian strategy of development and are against causing avoidable hardships and deprivations to land owners as consequence of implementation of schemes and projects. To enable better and more satisfactory application of this strategy all over India, the Centre even slackened implementation of the S.E.Z. (Special Economics Zone) Schemes.

If there really is no hidden agenda, it will be very wise on the part of the State Govt to abandon Lamphelpat Lourup and Langol foothills and locate the Institute at convenient and suitable sites in either Imphal East, Sadar Hills, Chandel, Bishnupur, Churachandpur or Tamenglong as per the said strategy of development with a human face.

On the contrary, if it evicts so many Langol foothill residents and yet reserved an extensive area of land at Lamphelpat Lourup for Pony Lovers Association or something like that, it will mean that the Govt of Manipur (1) care more for Pony than for the people and (2) is following a weird policy of “Development with A Pony Face”. God forbid!

It will be truly in the interest of the entire State if the Govt kindly review and rescind its decision as early as possible in the overall interest of the people of Sanaleibak.

The Sangai Express

Leadership Qualities

By Pashel Kingson

Since time immemorial leadership has played a great role in our country. The first revolt for Indian Independence 1857, failed to achieve its goal due to the failure of its leadership among the Indian. The revolt broke out on 10th May 1857, by the third cavalry at Meerut. Revolt was also held at difference places like Delhi, Lucknow, Jhansi, Barielly, etc. but without any proper leader and the revolt was poorly organized with no co-ordination or central leadership, also there was no all- India veneer about the revolt. Hence the revolt ended without any success. Time lapsed and came the era of Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Vallabhai Patel etc, and under their leadership India got Independence on August 15th, 1947.

Leadership must always have a sense of the public. He has to deal with human beings as individual and as a mass; he must know the art of getting into their minds and hearts. The elders and educators will have to take upon themselves the tasks of guiding the youth of today and explaining to them what is expected of them. Manipur witnessed an abrupt change in leaders belonging to different organization, people also felt frustrated by the lack of the State progress. At every nook and corner of the State there is political as well as financial crisis. The constant assault of innocent civilian by the armed forces or by the police and an awkward agitation in different places make us feel insecure in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, what we see all around is not at all inspiring and uplifting.

Corruption, lack of basic amenities, poor health care, missing governance in all spares of life stare us in the faces. In addition to this, the present leaders have no opportunity to enhance his views rather they are working under the spell of some unknown power.

Some insistent leaders also make the State administration get jeopardized by conveying and misleading its peoples in every activity, igniting the ignorant person to violence at any dispute that face them. Though the problem can be resolved in a span of few hours.

Many a case has been highlighted by the media, but the menace goes on unchecked. Neither the leaders are convicted nor are they accused of inciting the crowd to violence nor brought for trials in the faces of the public. Some weak leaders are also determined to get on the ideas that crop in their minds, which resulted in the deterioration of the State administration. Leaders in a different way are also very intelligent, operating in distance through their secretaries or through the activist to perform the works, deceiving all the innocent people of their community.

Though some educators of their community find the situation hard to digest and try to protests; however, they are being dragged and put aside. The frequent call of ban of vehicles plying at any day or hour is probably one of the causes of the wrongdoing of the leaders. Henceforth, the ban of vehicles plying has been adopted as an application to the Government to achieve their particular goals.

So far no leaders of any community have acknowledged their mistakes and they are not being condemned and no one knows why.

The remedy therefore lies in the inculcation of the right values through proper education and following the footsteps of great leaders.

A good leader must have the courage to utilize their hidden talents in a proper way; they will thus keep away from protest and demonstration that have become the order of the day.

Source: The Sangai Exprees

Hands-off ‘apartheid’ policy towards Sadar Hills

By Haokholala Thangjom

Shri JM Raina, former Chief Commissioner of Manipur conceptualised to create three districts in Manipur in the early part of 1962-63, namely, the Central District comprising the entire valley area, the North District comprising the present Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts. The proposed North District faced problem emanated from political exigency raised by the Naga leaders including late Rani Gaidinliu. Thus creation of more districts in the tribal areas became unavoidable.

Prototype Districts: In suppression of Order No. 18 of the office of the Chief Commissioner, Manipur, under reference No. A-1-3424-29, dated the 18th January 1950, whereby Manipur was ordered to be a single district under Manipur (Administration) Order, 1949 and with a view to introducing a more efficient system of administration in the Union Territory of Manipur, Shri Baleshwar Prasad, Chief Commissioner (Administrator), Manipur created five districts in Manipur, vide the Notification of the Government of Manipur Secretariat: Planning & Development No. 20/36/69-D, dated the 14th November 1969. The names of the five districts were:-

1. Central District with head-quarters at Imp-hal.
2. North District with headquarters at Ka-rong.
3. South District with headquarters at Chu- rachandpur.
4. East District with headquarters at Uk- hrul
5. West District with headquarters at Ta- menglong.

The population of the four districts in the tribal/hill areas in Manipur according to the census of the year 1971 were:

1. North District - 1,80,000
2. South District - 98,000
3. East District - 62,000
4. West District - 46,000

President of India’s Order, 1972: In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 371-
C of the Constitution, Shri V.V. Giri, President of India issued an order in respect of the Hill Areas Committee and in the First Schedule thereto the names of the four revenue districts remain intact and Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal revenue subdivisions were in the Central District.

But after the Assembly Elections in 1974 the alliance of the Manipur People Party and the Hills Union Party secured majority and formed the United Legislature Party (ULP) with the defection of a few Hills Union MLAs led by late Shri Y. Shaiza created political uncertainty. As a ‘realpolitic’ bonus Ten- gnoupal Revenue was inaugurated by late Shri Alimuddin, the then Chief Minister at Chandel on the 13th May 1974 making a total of five Revenue Districts in the tribal areas. According to 1971 Census the population of the new district was 43,000 only. Later on the name of the district was changed to Chandel District.

Autonomous District Councils: Central leaders at the time of demand of Autonomy or Autonomous District councils is a “cementing force” of the integrity of Manipur. At present Autonomous District councils are functioning in all six hill districts including the Sadar Hills as stipulated in sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. Therefore, it is a very simple syllogism of logic. The syllogism is

“Autonomous District Councils are in hill districts.

Autonomous District Council is in Sadar Hills.

Therefore, Sadar Hills is a District or a full-fledged district under the relevant Act.

Population Factor: Coming to the factor of population, the following informations from the Statistical Abstract, Manipur, 2005 published by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Manipur:

1. Senapati District - 2,83,621

a). Mao Maram Sub-division- 69,13
b). Paomata -- 27,065
c). Purul -- 30,912

Total- 1,27, 108

i). Sadar Hills West- 60,945
ii) Siatu Gamphazol - 44,130
iii) Sadar Hills East - 51,438

Total - 1,56,513

Besides the breakups of population of Senapati District, “the population of the four
Hill Districts are given here below:

1. Churachandpur District- 2,27,905
2. Ukhrul District- 1,40,778
3. Chandel District- 1,18,327
4. Tamenglong District- 1,11,499

It is an undeniable fact that the composition of the population of some districts in the hill areas like Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur show the preponderance of a certain community or tribe which providence decreed. Admittedly, in the Sadar Hills also preponderance of a certain community like the Kukis will not become a taboo in the administration.

The Sadar Hills as many as three Assembly constituencies which stands par with Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati proper unlike Jiribam which has a single Assembly constituency. With the strong political will and synergic effort of the District Demand committee and the elected representatives of the Autonomous District of Sadar Hills the final victory will be a certainty.

When we met late Shri Y.B. Chavan, the Home Minister in 1970, the tribal delegates were rebuffed by him saying, ‘Do not compare yourselves with Nagaland State which was a special case.’ I retorted, ‘Sir, is there any special reason for not granting Statehood to Manipur’. It made him grumpy.

So, I said, ‘Is there any special reason for criteria for not granting full-fledged district status to the people of Sadar Hills who are not “political leper” or plebeians among the citizens of our State.

Let the Government hands-off. Apartheid policy towards the people of Sadar Hills.


Source: The Sangai Express

UPF Press Release

UNITED PEOPLE'S FRONT

PRESS RELEASE
September 5, 2007

The United Peoples’ Front (UPF) is a political alliance of seven revolutionary groups. It has been relentlessly striving for political salvation as well as cementing unityamongst its people. The UPF, therefore, felt that confidence building measure is the need of the hour.

The killing of Pumzapau @ Abraham, General Secretary, Zou Defence Volunteers, who is also the Joint Secretary, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) along with one of his bodyguards on August 30, 2007 by the KNA is counterproductive for the unity and confidence measure undertaken by the UPF.

The UPF, therefore, asked the KNO/KNA to desist from wanton fratricidal and factional killings in future.

The UPF also condemned the killing of 10 cadres of Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) at Tangkhul Hundung village allegedly the NSCN (IM). It may be noted that the KLA is one of the constituent members of the UPF. The UPF is, therefore, pinched at the death of 10 cadres of KLA at the hand of NSCN (IM). The NSCN (IM) owes an explanation over the killing of KLA cadres to the UPF.

It is pertinent to point out that killing is not a solution to the problems confronting the tribal in Manipur. Violence is not a part of solution and hence everyone must unnecessary not indulge in violence.

The UPF shares the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families.


(T. SAMUEL)
Secretary,
Information & Public Relations

Freshers and Recollections - I

By David Buhril

Ten years ago, I was a fresher in Delhi. I reached the ancient city with sweat and the rusted smell of the patient Avadh Assam Express. I remember I was too homesick. Worst there was no medicine for it. I did not stop asking myself why it has to be like this? The monotonous university registration process was endless. My topper marks led me to the hallowed Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College to study Political Science. However, being a topper from Manipur makes little sense as CBSE was raining marks like manna. But, knowledge and the quest for that eventually define one in the long run. What matters ultimately is what one knows without the marks. Everything was a lesson bigger than what I learnt in the university’s syllabus.

Unlike the last freshers’ meet that recently concluded, the freshers’ meet in the year 1997 was a small and cosy affair. I remember it was held in RK Puram in a small room that snake a little longer than the usual rooms that we rent to live in the Capital City. For the dinner one long queue with soldier’s like discipline served everyone without any trouble. Our chef’s strength today would outnumber the fresher’s in 1997.So many things have changed. Many things also did not change. But I remember the warmth as I was new and a fresher then. I like that feeling of newness, which is already missing. It is already monotonous with the usual and routine affair. Also with the faces and the stale issues that we are cornered with. Man, I believe, love a change. We need change too. Whatever, going back, I remember people like Pu Hrangthangvung, Pu Lalchungsiem, Pastor Lalsiesang, Pu Patrick Infimate, Pu Lalhmingthang Joute, Pu Lalringum Inbuon were single and slimmer. I am not sure if they were mingling then. I don’t know, as I was not acquainted to them as much as today. Fortunately the electronic keyboard, then, did not define music. All the songs were pluck or strum with the six strings, which I will always love, than the destructive convenience that we never seem to realize. It was impressive to see every singer play the guitar for themselves. In the recent fresher’s meet, there was not even a sight of the guitar. Its sweet sound was far from the great expectations.

Almost all the freshers during those days came for pursuing further studies. Options were still limited. Our horizons appeared like the pond’s view. We never examine ourselves to understand our capacity and potentialities. So everyone talked about UPSC that could only multiply the number of rusted steel frames. There was nothing like call centre or BPO’s and the other boom that are already consuming immense global human resource today. We used to hear people talked about working part time in Delhi’s hot summer at McDonald. Otherwise, we, in Delhi Unversity north campus, could not imagine anything beyond class, library, studies and going home for long holidays in the summer to forget Delhi. I still remember the immense joy I derived in the privilege of finding my favourite newspaper, The Hindu, on my doorstep, which I used to read religiously. Reading and underlining the big, black and white newspaper and then cutting them were the routine indulges. It would take all the deserved good time. I used to tell myself that if I were an idol worshipper, N Ram, The Hindu editor, would be one of my small gods. I finally got to meet him when I was awarded the 2007 Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which is the country’s biggest award in journalism. Ten years on and I am still faithfully reading The Hindu besides the others, which I do to keep track of everything that matters.

Delhi University’s north campus was like an island then. Not to others but particularly for the Hmar speaking community. Munirka, for us, was like the capital of Delhi in those days. That does not seem to have withered even today. I made a point to attend the DHCF service on Good Friday and Christmas only. I have a problem traveling in buses. Moreover, I don’t believe in securing heavenly seat by running after all the drums and bells. Everything else starts from the within. I remember getting down from the bus, many a times in the middle of the road, to puke all the irritations away. It was a torture to go to south. Moreover, it was too expensive an affair for my shoestring budget. My principle, then, was to avoid everything but to read everything. The Thralaipawl or choir and all their endless affairs did not affect students from north campus. We were like the untouchables. We were beyond its reach, for God so love us. It still is today, for God’s mercy sake. I remember Alan Thiek, who is today studying in Pune’s UBS seminary, coming to north campus in the year 1998 and was full of surprise to find us, Hmars, studying in this part of Delhi. I realized then that Delhi was the capital village. Atleast for us. We seem to be good in discovering villages. But as it is still, students with good academic records would only get to study in north campus colleges then. Like Naipaul’s many small battles inside a battle, our circle was a small one even in the north campus. There was hardly visiting or visitors. No courting. No song practice. No silly or dirty manipulations by Dr Jekyl or Mr Hyde. But it was rich enough to be widen with books, which was instrumental. I realised that was healthy and productive than the large and unquenchable circle of friends that has become of us today.

One of my batchmate, Lalthanglien Ruolngul told me lately, in the year 2005, about the early days as freshers in Delhi. He said: “Those were conservative days for our friend’s circle in south Delhi. Some of our friends did not even wear jeans.” The yardstick is interesting. South Delhi or Munirka was considered too far for us from north. Bus numbers 621 and 750 served to bridge the north and south distance. Every student in north were well acquainted with the routes. We all would treasure our bus pass in those days. I remember I and a couple of friends took 750 bus to reach our fresher’s meet venue in that year. We all had the colourful Thangsuo Puon scarf with us. Those routes hardly take us to any impressive place of the Capital City that we grew up imagining about Delhi. No sight of skyscrapers. No Mercedes or big wheels. Instead, the road was clogged with snarling traffic that took almost eternity to make a move. Sometimes it is a surprise that ten years have passed when memories of those pregnant buses stagnating on roads is still fresh in the mind. Not only that, cow and pig could be spotted in the middle of the road too. Potholes. Pollution. Population moving to score a billion. What not? My fresher’s days were greeted with all that. CNG was not there yet. The flyovers and the subways too were still absent, except for those in ISBT and Bhikaji Cama Place. Metro, which is today running like the celebrated Christmas toy, must still be a distant plan in papers then.

There was no cyber café or internet. No mobile. Unlike today, one has to take all the inconveniences to fix a time with our neighbour’s telephone to talk to our family members. That would be once in a month if it were necessary. Our financial situation mostly determines that necessity. Otherwise it was a costly affair and a very inconvenient one. Letter writing and the postal system was the only means to connect the distance between home and Delhi. The postman was more important and significant to us than the Prime Minister or the President. I used to have a good stock of white and brown envelope and postal stamps. That was when people would be identified by their handwritings. One could make faces out just by reading the scribble on the envelope. Sometimes I would not open the envelope if I don’t have good tea to read alongwith. Many a times, I used to read sweeter letters over several times. Today it is just a matter of click from one’s own mobile. Instant and easy. Like courting a prostitute. But letter writing was full of all the good things. There was art. Creativity. Nothing could be sweeter. Every word was read like the faithful counting the blessing and naming them one by one. Things have changed. They almost seem like antique and ancient today. Not my choice. Never yours either. Technological revolutions did not seem to spare anyone. Everyone is digitalised today. Our identities are chipped inside numbers, which would cripple us anytime if we are cut off from it.


Source: Delhi Thurawn [The official website of the Hmar Students' Association, Delhi]