Assessment on the Importance of Online Resources on the Life of the Zou People
It is absolutely an astonishing and wonderful opportunity to have been invited to write an article. More importantly, my heart is exceedingly joyful to say "Congratulations on your first birth anniversary, Zolengthe! I seldom write short articles, but I will try to shorten my article and deal with Zolengthe and our current stage on communication online.
Our History of Communication: Communication in our land is as old as our civilization. However, the scope and type is different from time to time. The most primitive stage of connecting the Zou people was the village herald or village crier, and the chief’s messenger(s). We called “Taangsam” and “Patong” respectively. Prehistoric Zomis assumed that a village could only be set-up if they have a “Hausa” (Chief), “Siempu” (Priest), “Sia-kheng” (Blacksmith) and “Taangsam” (Herald/Crier). Therefore, communication played a very vital role in the life and practices of our prehistoric ancestors. Messages were passed on to the receiver on foot and on horse back.
In course of time, the light of the Gospel brought a wind of change and presented us an amazingly wonderful blessing - our script. Thanks to the late Rev. JC Cope and his aids who have transmitted this noble blessing of God. Since then, we have begun to use literature and village crier side by side to transmit the chief’s orders and proclamations. Now, we are beginning to use Electronic mails, Discussion Forums, Blogspots, Websites, Text Messaging, etc. to connect us around the world.
The Role of Zolengthe: Zolengthe has been doing exceptionally well in promoting and demonstrating its admirable slogan 'Connecting the Zo people.' It keeps connecting our people who are living in different parts of the world because such system truly serves the need and set a global table where we all share and get the same privilege on our finger tips. More acute need is being felt for people like me who does not have the privilege to get our print media such as daily newspapers, journals, magazines, books, etc. I could not imagine how life would have been without internet in general and Zonglengthe in particular. As a matter of fact, I added the Zolengthe Gadget on the right side of my website homepage @ www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com and titled "Zogam Niteng Simthu." It's a cool stuff!
Most American Universities use Mobile Campus system as a channel to send out messages. This system gives useful and timely information for commuters, and for university members who are away from their computers because as long as users have a cell phone and are subscribed to the service, they will get the message. This is also true to Zolengthe which connects our people, every subscribers of course, and gives timely information. More importantly, a lot of mobile phone users do not have a computer or even if they do, they do not have access to internet to get information as fast as the Zolengthe does. A significant percentage of our people are within this mobile community parameter. Thanks to Zolengthe!
The Zou Discussion Forums: We have three important discussion forums - The Zou Workshop Forum, the Zo History and Literature Committee (ZHLC) and the Delhi ZSP Forum. While the Delhi ZSP Forum was founded for the particular students/members, the Zou Workshop Forum was founded in the United Kingdom by Dr. David Vumlallian Ph.D on July 01, 2004 with an intention to binding all Zou Workshop members to share and give valuable opinion with any issue(s) that may come up from time to time. It is now co-moderated by Mr. Khai Minthang. It has a strength of 156 membership as of now, and we are still anticipating to getting more Zou intellectuals because we have been connected to online resources more then ever. The ZHLC was founded in South Korea on August 17, 2004 and has a strength of 166 membership so far. The Zou Workshop Forum deals with the Indian side of our people and the ZHLC deals with the Burmese side of our people. In fact, they both are internationally accessed and moderated. You are always anticipated and invited to join these two open forums at ZouWorkshop-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and zhlc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
The Zou Bloggers As I See and Know: I am not quite sure about the hard copy aspect (print media) of the Zolengthe. However, I do know that our Zolengthe has been administered and managed by Pu T. Zamlunmang Zou. I admire and appreciate his service and commitment in binding us together through the Zolengthe. There are two aspects of Zolengthe in terms of the channel being used to transmit message(s) to the receiver - blogging and text messaging! Both of them are wonderfully maintained and timely updated.
We are using two types of blogs so far to connect our people around the world. A corporate or organization and personal blogs. Some of our prominent corporate blogs are ZOLENGTHE, ZOCULSIN, PU-ZO, etc. There are some personal blogs as well, and we are expecting more Zou bloggers to come up and document our original works online. Some of the prominent Zou bloggers so far includes Dongza Thawng, HangP, Hausianmuan Munluo, K. Suantah, Khai Minthang, Nangpi Zo, P. Alex, Philip Thanglienmang, S. Thangbawi Zou, Shang Samte, T. Zamlunmang Zou, Thangminlien Zou, TK Lama, and others. T. Zamlunmang Zou is the most promising and multi-blog administrator we have so far! By the way, I am managing two - my personal blog and the Zou Folklores and co-moderarting the Zou Workshop Forum.
One of the very fascinating fact in online blogging is that our views and original works could be viewed by information seekers around the world. If they find useful, we are giving a helping hand to them! I was so encouraged and energized by the fact that my blog @ www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com has been viewed by people around the globe - 27% by USA, 17% by Israel, 13% by India, 5% by the Philippians, 4% by Germany, 3% each by Malaysia, China and Brazil, 1% each by United Kingdom, Hong Kong SAR China, Panama, Morocco, Mongolia, Kenya, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Spain, Egypt, France, Cyprus, Australia, Norway, South Korea, South Africa, Turkey, Finland, Pakistan, Slovenia, Poland, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and United Arab Emirates. So, a total of 36 countries viewed my blog so far! (As on October 10, 2008 9:05 pm).
The Need for Online Library: This is my hope and vision as we embark the new millennium. We will eventually have an online library. As I am currently doing my Master of Arts in Christian Leadership at the Louisiana Baptist University, I could feel the pain of not being able to get information on the Zou Literature Society (ZLS) Online library on my finger-tips because we don’t have one yet! I am sure this pain would be shared by many Zou students who could not have the privilege of accessing our literature in the hard copy format. So, what to do?
It is time for the ZLS to think about having an online library. The current average cost of purchasing an unlimited domain is US $99.99 per annum which means the domain can be managed and protected. One of the advantages in setting up an online library now is that most of the layouts of our books, periodicals and newspapers are done in computer (soft format) that can be saved and transferred to the online library administrator(s) to save time to copy the whole thing. The others that are in hard copy format now have to be manually entered with a lot of energy, time and right effort. However, this can be done, and it should be done.
Conclusion: The internet has become so vital and effective to our lives and culture especially to the lives of students and researchers who does not have access to printed media because of geographical, political or economic isolation. Zolengthe (Mobile community) serves more people simultaneously then other online resources. Zolengthe connects us quickly and very precisely but, our online resources - blogs, Discussion Forums and (to be) online library, serves us in a very comprehensive way. A significant percentage of our community have been under the Zolengthe mobile community because it is easily accessible and connects us timely and effectively.
http://www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com/
Our History of Communication: Communication in our land is as old as our civilization. However, the scope and type is different from time to time. The most primitive stage of connecting the Zou people was the village herald or village crier, and the chief’s messenger(s). We called “Taangsam” and “Patong” respectively. Prehistoric Zomis assumed that a village could only be set-up if they have a “Hausa” (Chief), “Siempu” (Priest), “Sia-kheng” (Blacksmith) and “Taangsam” (Herald/Crier). Therefore, communication played a very vital role in the life and practices of our prehistoric ancestors. Messages were passed on to the receiver on foot and on horse back.
In course of time, the light of the Gospel brought a wind of change and presented us an amazingly wonderful blessing - our script. Thanks to the late Rev. JC Cope and his aids who have transmitted this noble blessing of God. Since then, we have begun to use literature and village crier side by side to transmit the chief’s orders and proclamations. Now, we are beginning to use Electronic mails, Discussion Forums, Blogspots, Websites, Text Messaging, etc. to connect us around the world.
The Role of Zolengthe: Zolengthe has been doing exceptionally well in promoting and demonstrating its admirable slogan 'Connecting the Zo people.' It keeps connecting our people who are living in different parts of the world because such system truly serves the need and set a global table where we all share and get the same privilege on our finger tips. More acute need is being felt for people like me who does not have the privilege to get our print media such as daily newspapers, journals, magazines, books, etc. I could not imagine how life would have been without internet in general and Zonglengthe in particular. As a matter of fact, I added the Zolengthe Gadget on the right side of my website homepage @ www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com and titled "Zogam Niteng Simthu." It's a cool stuff!
Most American Universities use Mobile Campus system as a channel to send out messages. This system gives useful and timely information for commuters, and for university members who are away from their computers because as long as users have a cell phone and are subscribed to the service, they will get the message. This is also true to Zolengthe which connects our people, every subscribers of course, and gives timely information. More importantly, a lot of mobile phone users do not have a computer or even if they do, they do not have access to internet to get information as fast as the Zolengthe does. A significant percentage of our people are within this mobile community parameter. Thanks to Zolengthe!
The Zou Discussion Forums: We have three important discussion forums - The Zou Workshop Forum, the Zo History and Literature Committee (ZHLC) and the Delhi ZSP Forum. While the Delhi ZSP Forum was founded for the particular students/members, the Zou Workshop Forum was founded in the United Kingdom by Dr. David Vumlallian Ph.D on July 01, 2004 with an intention to binding all Zou Workshop members to share and give valuable opinion with any issue(s) that may come up from time to time. It is now co-moderated by Mr. Khai Minthang. It has a strength of 156 membership as of now, and we are still anticipating to getting more Zou intellectuals because we have been connected to online resources more then ever. The ZHLC was founded in South Korea on August 17, 2004 and has a strength of 166 membership so far. The Zou Workshop Forum deals with the Indian side of our people and the ZHLC deals with the Burmese side of our people. In fact, they both are internationally accessed and moderated. You are always anticipated and invited to join these two open forums at ZouWorkshop-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and zhlc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
The Zou Bloggers As I See and Know: I am not quite sure about the hard copy aspect (print media) of the Zolengthe. However, I do know that our Zolengthe has been administered and managed by Pu T. Zamlunmang Zou. I admire and appreciate his service and commitment in binding us together through the Zolengthe. There are two aspects of Zolengthe in terms of the channel being used to transmit message(s) to the receiver - blogging and text messaging! Both of them are wonderfully maintained and timely updated.
We are using two types of blogs so far to connect our people around the world. A corporate or organization and personal blogs. Some of our prominent corporate blogs are ZOLENGTHE, ZOCULSIN, PU-ZO, etc. There are some personal blogs as well, and we are expecting more Zou bloggers to come up and document our original works online. Some of the prominent Zou bloggers so far includes Dongza Thawng, HangP, Hausianmuan Munluo, K. Suantah, Khai Minthang, Nangpi Zo, P. Alex, Philip Thanglienmang, S. Thangbawi Zou, Shang Samte, T. Zamlunmang Zou, Thangminlien Zou, TK Lama, and others. T. Zamlunmang Zou is the most promising and multi-blog administrator we have so far! By the way, I am managing two - my personal blog and the Zou Folklores and co-moderarting the Zou Workshop Forum.
One of the very fascinating fact in online blogging is that our views and original works could be viewed by information seekers around the world. If they find useful, we are giving a helping hand to them! I was so encouraged and energized by the fact that my blog @ www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com has been viewed by people around the globe - 27% by USA, 17% by Israel, 13% by India, 5% by the Philippians, 4% by Germany, 3% each by Malaysia, China and Brazil, 1% each by United Kingdom, Hong Kong SAR China, Panama, Morocco, Mongolia, Kenya, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Spain, Egypt, France, Cyprus, Australia, Norway, South Korea, South Africa, Turkey, Finland, Pakistan, Slovenia, Poland, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and United Arab Emirates. So, a total of 36 countries viewed my blog so far! (As on October 10, 2008 9:05 pm).
The Need for Online Library: This is my hope and vision as we embark the new millennium. We will eventually have an online library. As I am currently doing my Master of Arts in Christian Leadership at the Louisiana Baptist University, I could feel the pain of not being able to get information on the Zou Literature Society (ZLS) Online library on my finger-tips because we don’t have one yet! I am sure this pain would be shared by many Zou students who could not have the privilege of accessing our literature in the hard copy format. So, what to do?
It is time for the ZLS to think about having an online library. The current average cost of purchasing an unlimited domain is US $99.99 per annum which means the domain can be managed and protected. One of the advantages in setting up an online library now is that most of the layouts of our books, periodicals and newspapers are done in computer (soft format) that can be saved and transferred to the online library administrator(s) to save time to copy the whole thing. The others that are in hard copy format now have to be manually entered with a lot of energy, time and right effort. However, this can be done, and it should be done.
Conclusion: The internet has become so vital and effective to our lives and culture especially to the lives of students and researchers who does not have access to printed media because of geographical, political or economic isolation. Zolengthe (Mobile community) serves more people simultaneously then other online resources. Zolengthe connects us quickly and very precisely but, our online resources - blogs, Discussion Forums and (to be) online library, serves us in a very comprehensive way. A significant percentage of our community have been under the Zolengthe mobile community because it is easily accessible and connects us timely and effectively.
http://www.khaiminthang.blogspot.com/
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