Random shots in the dark

By Don Morgan Kipgen

A sincere observation and explanation about the general ranking (with descriptive insignia) and Command structure of the regular army which are not well-known to many persons, including learned scholars, media boys, etc., in this H&T column have become a painful reality, thanks to a confusing Rejoinder. What was supposed to be a small matter of “Ignorance” turned out to be a shocking truth. The diplomatic rejoinder by a non-military reader to discredit a regular Columnist who writes, lives, eats, drinks, talks, sleeps and smiles with arms and ammunitions since time immemorial has backfired and left the general public all the more confused and misled. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It is simply hard to understand as to why a person who is not an army officer, without knowing even the Indian Army history nor a learned scholar would try to put himself in a harm’s way by wrongly criticised a “fellow media boy with wrong informations, unsubstantiated and highly speculative observations. If taken as a matter of fact, the whole content of the rejoinder dated; 8th Jan 2008, could definitely harm the future academic career of young scholars, especially those who are interested in military institutions. What if someone used the ranking system with some totally wrong insignia and the wrong informations given by the author of that rejoinder ?

In Manipur, we have an MPS officer (now Dist SP) who did not know the meaning of JCO and Chevron. Another direct MPS officer did not know what “area of jurisdiction” means. One SI has no proper idea as to what “photocopy/xerox” but very honestly admitted that he was under the impression that Xerox photocopy was “an extra still-photographic picture”!!! A retired NCO and a senior army officers were adamant that even senior police officers had no full knowledge about military Command and Ranking Structure like some few other civil service officers. One senior police officer did not know what Muzzle Velocity and Calibre are all about and had no knowledge as to how many rounds could be discharged by an AK-47 in one minute!!! On two occasions, a senior citizen, an IPS officer (Retd), first Manipuri IPS officer, mentioned about the raping of “one Miss Rose Tangkhul by one Major Pundir of the BSF’ in his articles whereas there is no rank of a Major in the BSF. If Mr. Pundir wore a Ashok Chakra (a Major in Indian Army) then he had to be a Deputy Commandant of the BSF. On the other hand, another retired Manipuri Army officer of the rank of Lt Col also wrote twice about “ The importance of being 2nd Lt” as written in an X-File column by a former journalist pertaining to the electrifying Yurembam Power Station case wherein Capt. Pillay, (Military Engineer attached to the HQ 57th Mtn Div., about 3 years ago) saying that the power station was shut down by 2nd Lt. Pillay!!! Of course, the former Army officer did mention later that the rank of 2nd Lt had been demoted to the rank of a JCO, ie., Naik-Subedar = one star with ribbon. But how Capt. Pillay be called 2nd Lt Pillay by two learned persons twice independently ? We have heard about the 21 paratrooper (SF) Bn, or 21 Paras in short, so many times from both the media and senior police officers. The so-called Leimakhong-based 21st Field Parachutists under the command of Col. Mann. The so-called “11th Grewal Rifles’ was also indeed the 11th Garhwal Rifles as corrected in this H&T column too. This is not to discredit any person’s honour or credibility but it is just a matter of real (official) fact.

Coming back to the “Rejoinder to the article military Formation and Ranking system,” the disjointed letter to the Editor was appalling. First, who says “legendary” (Gen. Sam) Manekshaw is the first and only one Field Marshal in the Indian Army ? How could the writer forgot India’s first Army’s Chief Field Marshal K.M. Carriappa (15th Jan., 1949 to 14th Jan, 1953), conferred after Gen. Sam Manekshaw ? How could he cocked-surely wrote the insignia of India’s Field Marshal as “Crossed Sword Star and encircled by two branches (sic)” ? Since there is no “encircled branches” in Indian Army’s epaulette (shoulder badge), the rank of Field Marshal has been somehow interpreted by the writer as that of a Maj. General!!! The non-commissioned army’s officer ranks of Subedar-Major and Subedar were deliberately left out by this H&T Columnist since it was written in accordance with universal army ranking system with the insignia of the Indian Army as an identifiable comparative purpose. There are no equivalent ranks or designations of Subedar-Major and Subedar in other nation’s ranking system. Moreover, Hindi is not encouraged in local English News-papers; hence, Sergeant, Corporal and Lance-Corporal instead of Havildar, Naik and Lance Naik. The “Rejoinderer” gave us a confusing insignia of Subedar-Major as “ Ashok encircled by twol branches with ribbon (JCO)” which is not known nor seen even by senior Army Officers and retired officers JCOs, NCOs, etc. A Subedar-Major wears only one Ashok Chakra with a ribbon and nothing more, definitely not two branches (sic). Moreover, there is no emblem or insignia called Ashok, which is a person’s name, but there is an Ashok Chakra, the 4-Lion Emblem of Emperor Ashoka at Sarnath, which carries an inscription, “Truth Alone Triumphs, Falsehood Never’. Contrary to the Rejoinder’s presentation, only the cap badge of General Officers and Brigadiers has olive branches (with a sword and a staff beneath an Ashok Chakra) and not on any officers shoulder piece (epaulette). The insignia of a sword and a staff is called “crossed sword” since it resembles the crossed swords of Indian Army’s Crest. The Army’s Central Command has also been left out. Who says “the GoC-in-C, Northern Command, has the highest chance of attaining the rank of General (sic) ? Upto to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, there was no Northern Command !!! Can we say that only SP of the Imphal-West or East has the best chance to become DGP of Manipur ? A mere childish speculative observation without statistical fact, dare we say? It is worth nothing that Gen. Shankar Roy Chaudhury was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff even though he had never ever Command any one of the 5 Combat Commands. During the Indo-China War of 1962, Gen. Kaul was appointed as Theatre Commander even though he was Commander of non-combat unit with the blundering military scholar, Brig. D.K. Palit as the DGMO (now headed by a Lt.Gen) by P.M. Nehru, ignoring the presence of India’s two most distinguish general officers, i.e., Gens Thimayya and Sam Manekshaw, both became the Chief of Army Staff later on. The Rejoinder also added an irrelevant and non-regular Army unit called Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) ignoring the existence of the DGMI and dubbed Military Intelligence (MI) with local term “INT” in written official form. Intelligence is printed as “Intell” by most military units. As for the rank of the demoted 2nd Lt, it was clearly written in this column as “2nd Lt/JCO = a star with ribbon,’ since Naik-Subedar has no equivalent English term. Once a JCO is added to 2nd Lt, readers would know that 2nd Lt is no longer a Commission officer’s rank (ie., a star without ribbon/JCO). Let’s be more sincerely practical and responsible enough to use our knowledge for the benefit of the general public. Let’s not write anything without having full knowledge and authority over a subject which we present as truth.

[TSE]

‘Internal security needs personal attention’

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired the Chief Minister’s Conference on Internal security at New Delhi on December 20, 2007.

Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address at the occasion:

“We met yesterday in the National Development Council to discuss the development challenges facing our nation and the new pathways we need to chart if we are to attain our development goals. Today, we are here to discuss the internal security challenges facing our Nation and the steps we need collectively to take if we are to provide the necessary environment for growth processes to play out fully. I would like to thank all of you present here and Shri Shivraj Patilji for this opportunity to discuss the internal security situation.

In many ways, development and internal security are two sides of the same coin. Each is critically dependent on the other. Often, the lack of development and the lack of any prospects for improving one’s lot provide a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish. A large proportion of the recruits to extremist groups come from deprived or marginalized backgrounds or from regions which somehow seem disaffected by the vibrant growth in many other parts of the country. I had mentioned yesterday that I am concerned about the unevenness of our development process and the various development divides that are opening up in the country – the inter regional divide, the rural-urban divide and the inter-sectoral divide. These divides and disparities lead to disaffection, large-scale migration, and also to discord. I notice that in many cases, internal security problems arise out of the uneven development and we also need to address this issue if we are to make any long-term headway in combating extremist ideologies and extremist elements.

At the same time, development cannot take place in the absence of a secure and stable environment. In the last sixty years, we can as a Nation, justly be proud of our record in upholding the rule of law and maintaining public order. But, there are regions where the absence of a peaceful, secure environment has become a major hurdle in improving their prevailing economic conditions. State agencies find it difficult to run schools, healthcare services and PDS systems. Construction of essential infrastructure like roads, railways, electricity lines, telecom lines, irrigation systems and drinking water facilities is slowed down or stopped because of inadequate security. Such an atmosphere then is certainly not conducive to investment or rapid economic development.

Such regions get trapped in a vicious cycle of a poor law and order situation coupled with slow economic development. One situation feeds on the other and it becomes increasingly difficult to pull these areas out of the rut they are caught in. I have dwelt on this at length to emphasise that there are no easy solutions to the internal security challenges we face. They cannot be seen only through the prism of law and order nor can they be solved through a pure policing approach. The internal security challenges we face need your personal attention and leadership. It is only then can they be addressed in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. I urge all the Chief Ministers present here to reflect deeply on the internal security problems that the Home Minister has highlighted and work out credible responses to those challenges.

As we survey the national security scenario, there are a few aspects which are a cause of concern. I wish to highlight a few of them. Left Wing Extremism continues to affect many districts of our country. Just a few days ago, we had a major incident of a jailbreak in Chhattisgarh. This was not an isolated incident. Not a day passes without an incident of Left Wing Extremism taking place somewhere or the other. Over the last year, the activities of naxal groups have revealed new aspects. They seem to have developed the capability in some areas to launch frontal attacks on police forces and establishments. They are certainly targeting all aspects of economic activity. They are targeting vital economic infrastructure so as to cripple transport and logistic capabilities and also slow down any development activity. This helps them sustain their ideology of deprivation and neglect. They have even managed to eliminate some important political leaders and their associates in some States.

There also seems to be a consolidation of various groups with better coordination and better strike capabilities. Although the notions of a red corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit that they have achieved some degree of success in enlarging their areas of militancy. In some States, they have also got involved in local struggles relating to land and other rights. I have said in the past that Left Wing Extremism is probably single biggest security challenge to the Indian State. It continues to be so and we cannot rest in peace until we have eliminated this virus.

We need a coordinated response to this challenge. The answers to the problem are well known. We need to cripple the hold of naxalite forces with all the means at our command. This requires improved intelligence gathering capabilities, improved policing capabilities, better coordination between the Centre and the States and better coordination between States and most important, better leadership and firmer resolve. Improving policing capabilities requires better police infrastructure, better training facilities, better equipment and resources and dedicated forces.

— to be contd

[The Sangai Express]

MANIPUR HILLS JOURNALIST UNION - Survery Report

(Period of Survey 14-19 November, 2007)

The MHJU team –

L. Chinkhanlian, President Editor, Manipur Express
Th. Thangzalian, Vice President Editor, The Lamka Post
Zohmingliana, Secretary Editor, Chhanty
Kh. Benlian Vaiphei, Editor, Nisin Thuhiltu
S. Singlianmang Guite, Correspondent, The Sangai Express
G. Muanthang, Correspondent, ISTV
NT Sanga, Cameraman, Angel’s Vision

Prelude

FIFTY years after a severe famine (Mautaam in local parlance) has claimed more than 15,000 lives in this part of the country, the same ugly facet as predicted reasonably has re-appeared in its entirety, threatening the very existence of every living soul dwelling in the hostile and neglected interior terrains of Manipur’s Churachandpur District.

The Manipur Hills Journalist Union – a conglomerate of working journalists based in the hills of Manipur, after a prolong survey and deliberate discussion has felt the need to highlight the reality. This booklet (in English) is, solely, a venture to educate the authority concern, of the reality, embark upon by the interior community following their devastating harvest as the MHJU papers were not universal.

Findings

Throughout its survey, MHJU is of the impression that famine – scarcity of food-grains, has indeed wrecked the economy of jhum dependent tribal communities. In all the forty villages surveyed, a whopping 99% has claimed that they were already on the threshold of Mautaam. 100% of the farmers interviewed said their normal harvest has been affected by rodents, storm or wild animals.

While describing their experiences with governmental programmes and its relief measures the general sentiment expressed was that the poor rarely benefit. This contention is compounded by the fact that PDS rice were sold only in bags atleast in three villages.

In fact many village chiefs have claimed that the existing BPL cards were issued not on actual survey of their living condition but from the comfort of SDO offices based solely on assumption. It has been revealed that the entire interior villages have in average an identical 40% BPL family. The concern officials have merely ridiculed the entire concept and their BPL cards were scorn-off by MLA nominees of FCS agents as it fails to rope in the disfavoured.

Hardly 10% of the population in each village could be accounted on the APL category. As such PDS supply meant for BPL Card holders – 40% of the population have to be shared with the remaining 50-60%.

Therefore, PDS needs to be expanded and made workable and accessible to the poor. There is also a need to review the issue of food stocks and their uses. Corruption and people’s lack of buying power in creating a piquant situation of low offtake needs to be addressed immediately.
The magnitude of desperation is such that the people have already submitted themselves of paltry celebration during the Christmas.

It is also revealing that a good majority of the populace lacks the purchasing power in order to benefit from PDS supplies even if it were to genuinely reach them. Entirely dedicating their year long energy on their Jhum, they have no other resource to depend on, when that fails.

Cutting woods, burning charcoal, hand sawing timber and collecting naturally grown forest vegetables were the only source that could generate alternative income. With the treacherous road connectivity and the meagre amount of resources these sources were occasional.

And, it is not just the food-grains that have been perverted. Even ginger, turmeric, chillies and other harvest some of the people could depend on were shattered by the ever increasing rodents, storm and other wild insects and animals including parrots, squirrels, wild boars, bats, etc.

Other key findings

None of the roads, except for the 30 plus kms stretch already black-top by BRTF, were courteous. They were mostly treacherous and in some cases life threatening.

The pace of work undertaken by the BRTF in Tipaimukh Road/NH-150, and PWD in Tedim Road and Guite Road was abysmal. Specifications were flawed even before black-topping, in many a stretch along the road undertaken by PWD. The expansion undertaken along the stretch in close proximity to Singngat sub-division headquarters was commendable, yet a great deal of the Tedim Road-Guite Road stretch lacks similar repute.

At Bukpi village, a 25-year old innovative youth has grown more than 200 vines of Beetlenut leaves (Mithapatta) and plug 5000 leaves every week with a handsome proceed of Rs. 1500.

Government officials including the SDOs have shunned the interior sub-division and merely visit their place of actual posting once in a while. Most of the office works are executed from the district headquarter only to reckon the suffering of the interior community. In a great deal of the educational institutions unqualified villagers are engaged on lease by the bonafied teachers, and what is more interesting is the fact that some of the village chiefs are part of the deal with a stake.

NREGS as immediate relief

Though most of the villagers have to pay from their own pocket the expense incurred in obtaining their photos; Rs. 20 in most cases, 75% of the individuals interviewed (including women) and 85% in the case of men were fully aware that JOB CARDS were meant for realising a hundred days Jon from the government.

Therefore, the NREG Scheme, if implemented immediately and used for improving the road connectivity of the villages, would go a long way in relieving the adversity interior communities have bumped upon.

That way, families under the clutches of famine would be able to earn their living and the treacherous road connectivity would fare better of to enhance regulation of PDS items and other essential commodities.

But with the present pace of implementation it is doubtful that the scheme would reach them before they really starve. And the financial year closing on March 2008 it would be a challenging task to practically endow a hundred-day job in four months in which Christmas and New Year festivity should also reck

www.mautaam.org

KA ZI

" Zi a mu zote na hoih a mu hi a. Topa’ maipha a ngah ahi." Paunakte 18:22.

Khamkhokam Guite a.k.a. Zokhual

Ka ngaih sutsut teh ka zi mahmah manpha sa ingh. Zi hoih ngah ding a hamsa mahmah ahi zawng in, kei pen a hampha mahmah zi hoih ngah mi khat hi ingh.

Ka lungsimin ka zi muang kinken a, amah zawng muanhuai zi hoih ahi hi.

Ka zi nuntak sungtengin ka insung ah thupha kitasamlo dingin um cinten ingh.

Ka zi in a khan tawntungin katungah thupha bawl a, thusia tun ngeilo hi.

Amah in thanuam takin nna sem a, phalvak tungin zingtho a, innsung taksap inn awng-hu in buai den kei hi.

Amah hangin, ka khasum san zong ki ningcing den a, ka ta ka naute puan hoihhoih guana, phalbi a hong tung ahi zawngin lunghimawhlo innkuan hi ungh. Ka inkuan neek ding alim-a-al, a man zong tawmpen ding zawngin thalawp takin a sem den hi. Ka khasum sante azat na’ng diktak a zat tumin khabul apan sehkhiatsa diam in koih theizel hi.

A lung nawpna Topa pan angah hi a, tua hangin nasep sil bawlah ahoih, a maan ding theisiam peuhmah hi.

Zin leh leeng hopih siam a, khual leh tualin pakta ua, kuamahpeuh maipha a mu den hi.

Ka zi in pilna leh itna tawh thugen a, kam khum takin pau hiat hiat hi.

Ka silh leh tente hoihtakin hong kep sak a, tua hangin ka office leh u liante lak ah ka tut a, Meeting leh Conference katel ciangin zawng akithuam hoihpen, akitheituam mi khat hi ingh. Lungsim nuamtak in ka nna hawngsem sak a, lungsim zangkhai in hawngkoih den a; tua hangin kasep kabawl tengah zawng ka mapai a, thupha leh deihsak tuamna a ngah ngitnget hi ingh.

Ka nu, ka pa hawng it pih a: ka sang gamte hong awlmohpih hi. Tua hang bek hi kei zong zi hoih hong pia - ka suung leh pute ka mit mauta bang a ka et a, ka duat ahi hi.

A zawng a cimawhteng tungah ka zi cingin siamzo a, ka innsung a anntaw leh khutdawh honglut peuhmah huhna ngahloin khutguak in ka insung pan ciahkik ngeilo uh hi.

Ka taten zong ka zi- a nu uh, it mahmah ua, ngaina peuhmah uh hi. “ Lampam ka sik khelh a zong Nu aw ka cih, cik leh kawng ngilh thei dia” ciden liang uh hi.

“ Zi hoih tampi tak a omtei hangin, nang ka’n a zi hoih kuamah om kei” cihthu ka zi kiangah a gen den, a sa den hi’ngh. Leitungah sawmvei ka nungta ahi zawngin, tua ka zi ngeimah sawm leh khatvei zi a neihnawn akithalop mahmah mikhat hi’ng.

Ka zi melah Pasian hong itna ki lang a, ka zi ka pahtawi ciangin, zi hoih hong pia Pasian pahtawi hi ingh.

Ka zi pen vantung leh leitung a pahtakna a ngah mi khat hi.

(PAUNAK 31: 10-31 SUNG PAN A BAWL)

http://zokhual.blogspot.com/

INDIAN AND RACISM

Lyan Samte

A Well-known Indian cricketer was accused of racially abusing an Australian cricketer during last Friday cricket match in Sydney. The Cricketer, of course, denied having said anything remotely racist to anyone, and the Indian team management and players gave him full support. The Indian media went even further to feign shock and disappointment at the Aussies’ accusation and accused them of playing spoilsport.

Well, no one, including me, know what exactly happened down there but one thing I do know is that one unwitting remark can sounds racist for some other. But in a caste/class divided India, those remarks are not always unwitting, for they had been so used to abusing the lower caste/class peoples for ages. In fact, it wouldn’t be too far from the truth to say that mainland Indian are one of the most racist people in the world.

Racism, in one form or the other, exists all over the world. Even in the developed world where people are more sensitive and awareness are higher, racism and discrimination still existed, but are hidden, unspoken and unexpressed. But in India, they loudly expressed it so and they think it is the right things to do or say. That is not so surprising considering it is also the country where caste and class segregation are fully accepted as a social order.

In India, more than the majority doesn’t even know what racism or discrimination means. The lower caste people are so used to the abuses they only cursed their lot instead of fighting for justice, while the upper castes are used to abusing the lower castes that who legitimatize by accepting the abuses. So you can forget about expecting anyone from knowing what little and minor things, words, expression and gestures that constitute racism and discrimination.

Indeed awareness is low in India, but that is no excuse –not especially for an international sportsperson who frequently traveled around the world. Going back to the cricket match, what is most shocking is the Indian team Management’s stand that the Aussies did not have clinching evidence. They should’ve have known better because racism may not necessarily be in the form of verbal, but also non-verbal, or just a mere gesture.

The Indian should know that racism is no game and racially abusing someone is no sport. It should be noted that the abused Aussies player has nothing to gain by dragging the Indian to the sport’s international panel. This simply means the Aussies cricketer is really hurt by the remark. In fact, the Aussies Cricketer’s decision to seek justice rather than going back to his shell like most of us is a courage that should be appreciated. If the abused Cricketer had been from the North-east of India, he would just keep quiet and silently cried his heart out.

But what disappoints me the most is the Panel’s decision to ban the accused from just 3 Test Match after finding him guilty. If he is really guilty, that punishment is just not enough; he should be banned for life, and the Indian team management should disown him. A racist like him doesn’t deserve to represent a diverse country like India.

http://storybox-lyan.blogspot.com/

Migrants by place of last residence, 2001

By Dr M M Meetei

In Manipur, 3.6 per cent of the total in-migrants of last residence is counted for work and employment in 2001 Census. Out of the total 13,716 in-migrants for work and employment, 48 per cent is enumerated as highest in intra-district migration while migrants from abroad (foreigners) is the least one (1.2.%). In-migrants from other districts and other states however recorded as 37.1 per cent and 13.8 per cent respectively. The age group 40-59 years occupied the largest in-migrants with 42.6 per cent of the total migrants of work and employment and followed by 35-39 years (15.3%).

Business: In general, Manipuris are not well-verse in business. A person can be said to have moved for business if she/he has moved to the place of enumeration from her/his place of last residence for joining a business or setting up/running a business. The word “business” refers to an economic activity involving some risk-taking either an own account or in partnership with others.

Only 1.1 per cent of total in-migrants of the last residence belonged to business in which intra-district migrants occupied 40.4 per cent as highest. The business communities migrated from other states is recorded as the next with 31.8 per cent while foreigners involved only 3.1 per cent. The inter-district businessmen share is 24.7 per cent of the total business communities. It is also stated that age group 40-59 years also marked the highest migrants with 39.4 per cent while age group 0-14 years the least one (0.5%).

Education: Education is one of the smallest sections of in-migrants with only 1 per cent of the total migrants of the last residence. A person can be said to have moved for educational purposes if she/he has moved to the place of enumeration from her/his place of last residence for joining a school/college or any other type of educational institution either for the first time or for continuously. It is recorded that among the migrants, intra-district migration is occupied as the highest with 54.7 per cent in education and followed by inter-district (40.2%), from other states (4.6%) and from abroad (0.5%) respectively. In education the age group 15-19 years recorded as highest with 28.1 per cent followed by age group 0-14 (22.2%) and 20-24 (21.3%).

Marriage: Marriage is the common nature of migration among the females. In Manipur, 25.3 per cent is considered to be reason for marriage in 2001. It is stated that intra-district migration is occupied as the largest with 81.1 per cent and followed by inter-district migration (16.3%).

The proportion of migrants from other states and abroad are recorded as 2.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively. It may be recalled that in Manipur late marriage is solemnized nowadays as a common phenomenon and it is supported that the age group 40-59 years migrated as highest with 36.0 per cent in which females are 98.2 per cent and males are only 1.8 per cent. It is also observed that more females (98.5%) have migrated than males (1.5%)

Moved After Birth: When a woman temporarily moves into a hospital or to her parents or other relatives’ house for delivery and if the hospital or parents/relatives house is in a place different from her usual place of residence, the place where the hospital or parents/relatives’ house is will be the place of last residence of the child but not the mother. So, such group of children is counted for migration of moved after birth.

Only 0.4 per cent recorded as moved after birth in 2001 in which intra-district migration occupied as the highest with 82.7 per cent and it may be observed that childbirth facilities have availed within the district itself. The other figures are followed by inter-district migration (13.0%), inter-state migration (3.9%) and from abroad (0.4%) respectively. Further, it is stated that the age group 0-14 years migrated as highest with 46.2 per cent.

Moved with Household: The reason moved with household will refer mainly to cases where the entire household moves. If a person is migrated for transfer and posting, she/he will be treated as work/employment but her/his other family members are counted for moved with household. This migration type occupied 11.1 per cent of the total migrants of last residence. .

The intra-district migration in respect of moved with household marked the highest as 60.5 per cent followed by inter-district (29.5%), from other States (8.7%), and from abroad (1.3%). In another comparison, the age group 40-59 years recorded the highest proportion with 23.3 per cent followed by 0-14 years (22.9%). .

Others: Any other reason will include all other reasons for migration not covered under work/employment, business, education, marriage, moved after birth and moved with household. Similarly as stated at place of birth, the communal clash arises among the hilly peoples in 1992-93 and ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Meitei Pangals in 1993 have affected the migration pattern in Manipur after the 1991 Census. Of the total in-migrants of last residence, 57.5 per cent as the highest belonged to any other reason.

Large-scale intra-district migration happened throughout the state with 86.2 per cent in this regard. It is informed that the inter-district migration occupied 11.1 per cent as the next and followed by from other states (2.5%) and from abroad (0.2%) respectively.

Age and Literacy: In Manipur as per place of last residence, there are 377,059 migrants in which 58.7 per cent are females and 41.3 per cent are males. The Census of India 2001 has divided into 9 different age groups among the total migrants as highlighted at Table No.II. The age group 40-59 shows with 24.6 per cent of the total in-migrants as highest while age not stated is the least one (0.3 %). The proportion of other age groups are recorded as - 0-14 years (18.8 %), 15-19 years (7.7 %), 20-24 years (9.2 %), 25-29 years (10.2 %), 30-34 years (9.5 %), 35-39 years (9.7 %) and 60+ years (10.0 %) respectively.

The percentage of literacy rate including 0-6 age group to total immigrants is 59.1 per cent and the age group 15-19 years occupied the highest literacy rate with 82.1 per cent of the total migrants while age group 0-14 stands the least one (43.3%).

Age and Workers: Among the in-migrants, 55.2 per cent is calculated as workers in 2001. The term workers in census means person involving in economically productive works during the reference period of one year, i.e. from 9th February 2000 to 8th February 2001 for the Census of India 2001. Those persons who engaged in any economically productive works as 6 months and above are treated as ‘Main Workers’ and this workers group occupied 37.8 per cent of the total in-migrants while involving less then 6 months are called ‘Marginal Workers’ (17.4%).

Further, it is noted that those peoples who are seeking/available for work among the marginal and non-workers are also calculated as 26.7 percent and 15.8 percent of the total marginal and non-workers respectively. It is also recorded that among the main workers, the age group 40-59 calculated 39.4 percent as highest and followed by 35-39 (14.5%), 30-34 (12.8%), 25-79 (11.1%), 60+ (10.1%), 20-24 (7.3%), 15-19 (2.9%) and age not stated (0.3%). One of the interesting analyses is that even having the restriction of child labourer in the Country and state as well, the proportion of main workers in age, 0-14, to total main workers is found to be 1.6 ‘percent. Similarly in marginal and non-workers, the age group 40-59 stands the largest workers with 29.2 percent and 10.2 percent respectively while age not stated found the least one (0.2% &0.4%).

Age and Marital Status: Each and every person of the every household should be canvassed information of marital status irrespective of their ages. The Census of India, 2001 has divided into 5 different categories of marital status. Out of the total migrants as per last residence, 18.2 percent is reported as duration of residence 0-9 years which was stayed at the enumeration area after migration from her/his usual residence, among them currently married constituted as highest with 66.0 percent and followed by never married (31.0%), widowed (2.3%), divorced and separated (0.7%) and there -is no record on unspecified. Further in currently married group, the age group 20-29 years recorded as highest with 44.4 percent in which females contributed 92.2 percent and males (7.8%). It is very interested that there is 148 couples recorded as currently married means not yet divorced and separated and living together since marriage in age above 80 years in the state. There is no any marriage couples in age group 0-9 years and it is indicated that no child marriage is practiced in the state. It is also reported that number of females widow (86.1%) is more than males (13.9%) in the state. Divorced and separated females (76.3%) are also recorded more than males (23.7%). However, in never married category, more males are constituted with 55.6 percent than females (44.4%).

Duration of Residence: How many completed years have stayed continuously in the village/town where the person is being enumerated after migration from her/his usual residence is also collected in migration. This question will apply even to a person born at the place of enumeration who had subsequently shifted to some other place because of the reasons noted above and come back again to reside in this village/town. But, it is not applicable for temporary visit or tour, etc.

For smooth analysis, the Census of India 2001 has divided into 6 different categories of duration of residence (Table-III), viz. 1) Less than 1 year, 2) 1 to 4 years, 3) 5 to 9 years, 4) 10 to 19 years, 5) 20 years and above and 6) duration not stated. Among these groups, the last category, i.e. duration not stated occupied the largest in-migrants with 53.4 percent and followed by 20 years arid above (17.5%),10 to 19 years (10.9%), 1 to 4 years (8.7%), 5 to 9 years (8.4%), and less than 1 year stand only 1.1 percent respectively.

Rural-Urban Status: A person is known as migrant when she/he is enumerated other than her/his place of birth or place of usual residence. In Manipur; as ‘per place of last residence, 73.7 percent of the total migrants are enumerated in rural areas and 26.3 percent in urban areas (Table IV). It is further stated that out of the total 377,059 migrants; 191,240 are migrated from rural areas and enumerated them as 84.5 percent from rural to rural and 15.5 percent from rural to urban. Again, out of 46,915 (12.5%) immigrants from urban areas, 76.1% in urban and 23.9 percent in rural. It is observed that in-migrants from rural areas are more enumerated to rural areas and from urban to urban. A sizable number of in-migrants (36.8%) are enumerated as unclassified in which 75.7 percent enumerated in rural and 24.3%in urban areas.

Conclusion: Migration is a human movement from one place to other. Why and how the man has to cross a jurisdictional boundary should be checked by the State Govt for proper checking the unwanted population growth.

[TSE]

Lest we forget "JANUARY 7, 2006"

Khatchin Langel

On January 7, 2006, an epoch making event, the like of which has rarely happened before, took place at Lamka Public Ground. If my limited knowledge serves me right, no such great movement ever took place before in Zogam history.

On December 31, 2005, a meticulously planned assassination conspiracy was executed with pin-point accuracy that brutally killed late Pu T. Thangthuam, IPS, Inspector General (Security). This horrendous crime on the very eve of the New Year - the most celebrated festival for Zomi Christians - shook all the tribes in Churachandpur District and its adjoining North-Eastern states and Myanmar. This tsunami-like high intensity shockwave devastated the whole society. The shock, feeling of total helplessness, anger and misery was beyond words. Every sensible person knew who the culprits were but nothing would be done against them by the rulers that be, whoever they were!! The die-hard few hoped against hope that strong warnings and retribution would surely come from the right quarters. But there was none! Total darkness and gloom replaced the happiness that inevitably comes with every New Year!

The personality, love and contributions to the society by late Pu T. Thangthuam. IPS is well-known to us all. He was brutally killed on Dec. 31, 2005 “by mistake”. A day earlier, a landmine blast blew up Mr. T. Laljem (19), s/o T. Thangkhogin of P. Munlian village, in Vangai Range, right in front of his father’s very eyes. A merciless mass rape was perpetrated at Parbung and its surrounding villages by an outlawed valley bases armed militants. Strong words of condemnations against these heinous crimes were issued by all political/ethnic parties, as usual.

[In Delhi, various meetings marked by emotional and powerful speeches took place. A common forum – Unau Forum – was formed to set the agenda for our future common fight against the systematic killings and continual oppression of the Meiteis. Sadly, it remain a piece of useless paper till today].

The mammoth gathering of thousands of people at Lamka Public Ground on January 7, 2006 - “The Day of Mourning” - was a spontaneous response to the courageous call from leaders of 4 separate Students’ Organizations viz. HSA, KSO, MZP and ZSF.

Lest we forget (to our own peril) this epoch making, momentous and path breaking Day of Deepest Public Mourning Day, I hereby chose to highlight three points from the Agreement, the Declaration and the Solemn Pledge made by the mammoth gathering in complete unison:-

(1) Adopt to sink our differences for the common cause of a separate administrative set up for the tribals,
(2) Each one deeply mourned the assassinations of T. Tualkhanpau, MPS, SP/Bishenpur, the killing of Pu R Parte, MPS and the assassination of Pu T. Thangthuam, IG(Intelligence) and his Guard Commander T. Khamkhanjam.
(3) There was no brighter future other than through self-governance and self-administration as was foreseen by the British.

I believe that if the history of independent Zogam is ever written in future, January 7, 2006 would surely be written in golden ink and celebrated as an one of the most important, auspicious national days.

My sole intention and purpose for writing this article is to ignite the ember of patriotism within us and somehow move forward, step-by-step, to our cherished long term goal, whatever it is. I fervently hope that this will help us in cementing a more durable unity and get closer to our dream of nationhood. If, however, some unscrupulous elements amongst us still interprete it in any other manner, I would be totally helpless. But so be it! Let our patriotism grow stronger and stronger every day.

[ SSPPNet ]
www.zogam.com

Land system in the hills

By Dr H Kamkhenthang

Manipur distinguishes itself in definite characters into plain areas and hill areas having respectively geographical areas of 10% and 90% of the State. The hill areas surrounding the valley are the home of different ethnic groups who are the first people in an American term and are Scheduled tribes in the term of Indian context. They are also indigenous people in terms of United Nations Declarations. The Naga tribes in Ukhrul, Senapti, Tamenglong and Chandel districts and the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes have different sets of land system. The Naga land system is an evolved type of the land ownership system over that of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo (Zoumi) group of tribes having a population of more than three millions dispersing in three different countries like the Chin State of Burma, Mizoram State, Manipur, Tripura of India and Chittagong Hill tracks of Bangladesh. Unlike the Nagas of Manipur and Nagaland, the Chin-Kuki-Mizo (Zoumi) people are homogeneous group having the same structure of land system, hereditary chieftainship invested with ownership of land to the chief wherever they are. Bertram S.C and Truck H. N in The Chin Hills (preprinted in 1976): p 3 wrote:

The Government of the Naga tribes is distinctly democratic. Their chieftainships do not necessarily pass from father to son, but are practically dependent on the will of the tribesmen, and the Naga Chiefs are therefore without much individual power and their rule is based on the general approval of the clan. The Kuki chiefs, on the other hand, invariably inherit their position by the right of birth and take the initiative in all matters concerning the administration of their clansmen, by whom they are respected and feared. Of course, even among Kukis, it sometimes happens that a Chief fails to govern his clan with a firm hand or is so overbearing that he is deserted by his people, who fly to another village and to the protection of a more lenient ruler. The braves of a tribe, too, will not always forsake the excitement of the war-path at the command of a peace-loving Chief. It is true that the elders of the village, called “ Vaihawmte in the north and “Boite” in the south and by the Lushai officers, “Kharabari” and Mantri,” surround the person of the Chief, but although they will discuss questions together, they have no power to over-rule the decision of the Chief himself...”

The lands of the chief among the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes belong to the Chief is true in Mzoram, Manipur, Burma etc. A village belongs to the chief. At the time of asking a stranger about his village a man puts a question, Nang kua khua na hia? This literally means to whose village do you belong? The original correct answer to this kind of question have been to mention the name of the village chief followed by the term khua (village). This is an indication that the village and the village land belong to the chief in the traditional rights. In the system of land holding among the Nagas, there are individual ownerships of land with right of transfer by inheritance, sale and gift besides clan land, village community land. It is found that the lands of the autocratic chiefs of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo traditionally belong to them as well as Naga individual lands belong to the individual Nagas with right to transfer and to get compensation on eviction by Government. In a case Civil Rule No. 1331/90/90/91 in the Imphal Permanent Bench of the High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh between the North Eastern Council, Shillong, the State of Manipur, the Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul District versus Hundung victims of Development, the judgement was in favour of the petitioners whose lands had been acquisitioned by the North Eastern Council through the Government of Manipur for (1) Construction of Mini Cement Factory with an approach road (2) Construction of the Imphal-Ukhrul road and (3) Construction of the Nungshangkhong Mini Hydro Electricity power project. In the judgement and Order of this case it is noted at Sl. No. 25 as:

“We are here concerned with Hill areas of Ukhrul... the learned Judicial Commissioner held that there is no Government Khas land in the hill areas of Ukhrul. The ownership of land situated in the hill villages at Manipur vests in the villagers. They do not hold the land under the pleasure of the Government...,” The High Court in its Judgement directed that compensation should be paid with interest at the rate of 15% on the amount not paid or deposited before taking possession of land as prescribed under the proviso to Section 34 of the land Acquisition Act. Solatium shall also be paid at the rate of 30%. The extension of MLR and LR Act of 1960 in certain parts of the hill areas deprive the people of ownership of land based on tradition and customary practices. In Khuga Dam construction certain persons who are made genuine land owners only got compensation and those who hold land only on the basis of traditional practices and customary laws happen to be encroachers in their own lands.

There will be no expediency in devising land laws without properly studying the intricacies in various aspects of the people. Guidelines devised by Professor Malinowski in his study of land tenure system of the native peoples in the Micronesian islands is going to be the best model in the study of the land tenure system of the hill people of Manipur. The same principles applied by Stevenson in his study of the land tenure systems of the Central Chin Tribes in the present Falam district of the present Chin State in Burma may be adopted in our study and assessing the land tenures system of the Chin­Kuki-Mizo group of tribes and that of the Naga group of tribes in the hill areas of Manipur. Proper study of land system of the native people is needed in order to see the complicacies in the true perspectives. HNC Stevenson, FRAI, member of the Burma frontier Service in his book The economics of the Central Chin Tribes quoted a warning or an excellent lead given by Professor Malinowski while Stevenson himself gave his ideas and experiences on his works among the Central Chin Tribes. Stevenson wrote”

“In this analysis of local land tenure I follow humbly the excellent lead given by Malinowski in Coral Gardens and their Magic.”

“Professor Malinowski has uncovered what must be regarded as the fundamental factor in any land tenure enquiry, that is, the fallacy of attempting to assess tenure from its legal aspects alone”. He writes further in, (Vol.1, page 31 in his book, Coral Gardens and their Magic).

“We would lay down at once the rule that any attempt to study land tenure from a legal aspect alone must lead to unsatisfactory results. Land tenure cannot be defined or described without an exhaustive knowledge of the economic life of the natives. Again he mentioned (Vol. 1, page 319) as, “The complications of land tenure go further than this, as we know, the purely economic uses of land cannot be separated from rights of settlement, political claims, freedom of communication and transport; from territorial privileges connected with ceremonial, magical and religious life. No doubt the economic utilization of land forms the solid core of all these privileges and claims. But land tenure must be conceived in a more comprehensive manner; it is the relationship of man to soil in the widest sense, that is, in so far as it is laid down in native law and custom and in the measure in which it controls political life, affects the performance of public ceremonies and gives access to opportunities for recreation and sport, Man’s appointed and culturally defined place on his soil, his territorial citizenship, his type of residence, and those rights which underlie the various use of his soil for an organic whole of which the economic exploitation is but a part, albeit the most important part.”

The Chin-Kuki-Mizo people living in different countries have traditional land system. The basic elements in their land system are the same everywhere. The Meitei King claimed absolute ownership of lands within his territory. Das J.H. (Cf.1989 :14) says that the King can make extensive grants of lands to Brahmins, sepoys, priest, idols, his own relatives etc in the earlier period of Meitei land system. Basing on this concept of Meitei land system anthropologists and administrators all agreed that the land belongs to the Raja and that he could give away or retain land as he pleased in the valley. Lokendra, A. (Cf. 1997 : II -13) had shown nine different types of lands in the valley measuring a total area of 26,500 paris under cultivation in 19th century. Rent or revenue was collected only from 9,900 paris out of the total cultivated land of 26,500 paris. Of these 9 kinds of land, six types of lands were rent free land. The rent of the cultivated lands had been eaten away by the king and his men. Three types of lands are tax paying land consisting of only 2,200 paris.

The Chiefs among the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes also had absolute right over land. To Zahau Chin, studied by Stevenson, his land is Keimah ih ram meaning my own land. He said that the Chief was the master of the soil. The claim of the chief of Zahau Chin of Falam of the Central Chin State of Burma over the land as the owner of the land is ideally similar with the other Chin, Kuki, Mizo and Zoumi group of tribes elsewhere. The fact that the village chief is the absolute owner of the village land among the Chin­Kuki-Mizo group of tribes and individuals in the community among the Naga tribes and the former Metei King were the absolute owners of the land in their own ways without interference and any imposition. Ownership of land by the tribals is something like their universal rights under international law. This point will be clarified by a famous case called Mobo case in the Supreme Court of New Zealand in which the lands acquisitioned by the Queen of England had been reverted to the natives after a long legal battle.

The MLR and LR Act of 1960 is extended to the whole of Manipur except the hill areas but the provisions of the Act had been applied in as many as 1167 villages in four hill districts. Law Research Institute, Gauhati High Court observed many problems created by the extension of the act to the selected hill villages. Das J.N ( Cf.1989; 144) states thus:

The extension of MLR & LR Act 1960 to the village inhabited by the Kuki tribes has created many problems beside that of annual pattadars... but the customs relating to the land system of these villages are different... The villagers were his tenants, and they used to pay regular rents in kind besides other presents... Without abolishing the ownership rights of the Chiefs, how could these be brought directly into contact with State Government? Yet, this was done, -wrongly in our view...

The introduction of the MLR and LR Act in the midst of oppositions from the Chiefs and the public is natural for those who understand and comprehend the possible complications. It appears that any amount of persuasion of the hill people by the valley people to directly amend the land system of the hill areas and introduction of the MLR & LR Act of 1960 is the hill areas with a bait of making the hill plots mortgageable commodity for securing bank loans is an erroneous approach. The Gauhati High Court Research Institute found that the land systems prevailing in the hill are different from those prevailing in Manipur valley and observes as:

‘The MLR & LR Act 1960 is better suited to the villages of Manipur Valley than those of the hill districts. Even its well-meant provisions may create unforeseen complicacies, as have been seen in the few villages where it has been already extended. Different systems of inheritance and different methods of cultivation are followed among the different tribes and these have a direct bearing on the prevalent land-system, Rights over land everywhere are acquired either by clearing jungles or by inheritance or by transfer. Difference in these three methods creates differences in the land-system, too.’

Individuals as resident cultivator, as a hunter, as a fisher and so on have claims and rights as found by Stevenson particular among the Central Chin Tribes and the same is true in the cases of Manipur. The MLR and LR Act, 1960 cannot make a villager in the districts to be a land owner on the basis of his traditional system of land rights without first foregoing his traditional rights to the land of his forefather he has inherited by succession. Throughout the discussion above we mention about the rights of the chief and individuals relating to land, the extension of the said act without examining the complicacies is to nullify the rights and ownership of land permitted earlier by the chief to his tenants. In the extended area of the Act in certain parts of Churachandpur district there was a report that 15 plots of land allotted by the village chief of Saikot have been covered by allotment orders on payment of premium as per the relevant section of the Act. But there are 13 plot holders with permission of the chief of the village, occupying the plots of land for many years were treated as unauthorized encroachers of Government land. Such peculiar situations are being created as a result of the extension of the MLR and LR Act. No body wants to be a refugee in his own land and nobody wants to be an encroacher and unauthorized occupant on his own land. Under this situation the report of the Research Institute of Gauhati High Court observed as:

‘Tribal lands had not yet been taken by the Government as yet from the village chief and the community. How could the chiefs rights over the land be ignored? These rights have not yet been acquired by Government. Legislation for acquisition of Chiefs Right) Act, 1967 has been enacted but it had not been implemented yet. In Mizoram, a similar legislation called the Assam Lushai Hills District (Acquisition of Chiefs Rights) Act 1964 had been passed long ago and it was forthwith implemented. The chiefs and the headmen in the hill areas irk the treatment of their present positions while their rights are ignored but their co-operations are sought whenever a Government official comes on a visit to his village. They are in an ambivalent position. The Mizo chiefs (and the chiefs of the Chin tribes of Burma-unquoted) who had enjoyed the same kind of rights over the village lands as Kuki chiefs do now in Manipur have disappeared and the Mizoram State Government has now issued pattas to the erstwhile tenants of the Mizo chiefs. This shall have been and may still be the model for Manipur-fringe-villages to which MLR & LR Act 1960 has been extended.’

It has been found that the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes in Manipur, Mizoram, Burma and Chittagong Hill tracts of Bangladesh have the same structure of customary laws relating to social, economy, culture, land system etc. They need to be treated similarly on the same grounds. The traditional chiefs of Mizoram and that of the Chin State were compensated as the King of Manipur was given Privy purse. But the Chin­Kuki-Mizo chiefs in Manipur Hills were not given any sort of compensation as it was done in Mizoram and Burma. Compensation of land for the hereditary chief of the Chin­Kuki-Mizo is a sine quanon in order to abolish the chief right on land in the same manner their cognate tribes were meted out in Mizoram and in the Chin State. The said Act, if enforced steadily in a planned manner in certain selected pockets will deprive the tribesmen of their traditional lands and reduce them to landlessness. In addition to this the Naga tribes having a little evolved type of land system over the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group should be compensated whenever there is land acquisition of traditional land by government as it was done in the case of the Hundung Victims of development.

It is also a very high time on the part of the authority to rethink the present situation, in stead of holding the view that extension should be done gradually, in planned manner and in selected pockets only. A proper assessment and study of tribal land tenure system, rights and claims of the chiefs, individuals etc. not only for the legal application but in a comprehensive manner encompassing broader spectra as suggested and applied by Prof. Malinowsky and Stevenson already highlighted above is the need of the day.


[www.thesangaiexpress.com]

Minors abused, sex trade thrives in NE

Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Trafficking of minor girls is a huge problem in the North East. An NDTV team met several minors in Manipur's Churachandpur town who were sold to brothels and subjected to continuous sexual abuse. The New Bazar area in the town is where the illegal sex trade of minor girls thrives. Scores of girls are brought here from various places and forced into prostitution.

Kim (name changed) found her way here when she was 13-years-old. She narrates her horrifying tale. ''One day we were late and were chased by some men and my cousin screamed. There were some commandos stationed nearby and we thought we were rescued.

''We were taken to a hotel and given food. But the next morning when I woke up I had no clothes on me and I realized I was raped. I cried a lot but I was locked up and forced to become part of the brothel. Slowly I got used to it,'' recounts Kim.

The NDTV team found that most of the customers in New Bazar are securitymen themselves. On their part, the police say they are unaware of the flesh trade.

''In Churachandpur town area there are some commercial sex workers but we can't find them,'' says Manglemjao, SP, Churachandpur.

Ironically, they are there at every street corner. At a brothel located in the middle of the main market, the NDTV team met 17-year-old Laam, who was waiting for customers.

''Generally I get Rs 600 per day and I send the money home. My customers are mostly Meiteis from the valley. Some are poor, some rich and some big officers. There are also many married men. I don't want to be like this but I want to earn on my own. If my family finds out what I'm doing they will kill me,'' said Laam.

The team also found at least 15 minor girls in brothels in the market alone. Activists say the incident of AIDS among them is alarming.

''I have been working with sex-workers in this area for five years now. Today if I see them, they may not be there tomorrow. Now I am dealing with 15 cases, earlier I had 35 cases. Most of them are from poor families and broken families. No education, because of lack of money,'' said Sister Mary Rose from an NGO called Diossesan.

Trafficking of minor girls from the North East has been going on for a long time but noone knows who runs the racket.

People in the city allege that since securitymen are the main clients, the pimps have their protection.
The trade thus continues to flourish and the young souls are seen as mere playthings.

Every day young girls are sold to a city brothel and then trafficked to metropolitan cities. Many of the girls start their journey from here and its not surprising that there has been little or no intervention to rescue them.

Caught in the deadly web of drugs, HIV, militancy and trafficking, places like Churachandpur have virtually lapsed into anarchy.

[NDTV]

To our Promised Land

By Pu Lian Uk

God has given us this land known as Chinland or Lairam or Zogam. The reason is this wide territory of vast land has been inhabited by the Chin people as the first settlers in the land. There are no other people who can claim that this Chinland has been theirs other than the Chin people. This land has been recognized by the universal law in the UN that it is the land of the Chin people in all international maps and atlases. If you cannot believe it, please buy an atlas or go to library and you will see the truth in many maps and atlases.

There is no way that the Chin people can create a territory like as wide as this Chin land in which only Chin culture and language is fully practiced in all its length and breadth. This was what Pu Rokunga composed in his song "Kan Zotlang Ram Nuam" that there is no other land so pleasant like this "Zotlang ram" in the world . It was with this song that the Band troupe of the Third Chin Rifles Battalion got First in the competition of all the Band troupes of the Union of Burma(UB) armed force Battalions in 1 953.

It has been neglected to develop by the succeeding Burmese governments. There is no any infrastructure like communications and electricity worth mentioning in the present Chin State. It has been left barren with no development for sixty years after we are supposed to be in our independent land.

The reason was there has never been Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin State government for sixty years. There has never been development planning for the Chin territory at state government level for sixty years. Chin state is thus like a sick person which never is intentionally given medical treatment to let it die slowly though its illness is known.

It is this Burmese military regime which blocks us to form Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin State government though U Nu government was at least to allow the Chin territory to form Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin State government in 1962 after 14 years of Independence.

All the difficulties including the problem of poverty we have in the Chin State today is because we have never had Chin state legislative assembly and Chin state government. The Chin state will continue on suffering the same problem and the same poverty if only democracy is restored in the Union of Burma (UB) with no federal constitution as Chin state will not still have their elected leaders in the Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin State government to redress all their problems and poverty they have suffered today.

The reason is all the governmental departments in the Chin State are under the various Ministries of the Government of Burmese people as the sovereign power of the government of the Union of Burma is totally monopolized in the unitary form of constitution by the Burmese people whose flat land is much different in topography of the landscape and culture and language from the Chin territory and its people. Chin and Burmese have traditionally recognized each other as different people different in culture, language and in other aspects.

The Burmese ministers who have been dealing with the affairs of the governmental departments in the Chin State know nothing about the Chin State topography, their culture and language which are much different from the Burmese in the flat plain as they have never been to the Chin state. Those Burmese ministers who dealt with the governmental departments in the Chin state had not been elected from the Chin state constituencies by the Chin people even during the democracy period from 1948-62 for the constitution of the UB in those days was in unitary form.

So even though a Burmans Minister will not do any good work for the departments he controls in the Chin State, there is no way for the Chin people to remove him from his minister-ship as he is not elected by the Chin people in the Chin State constituencies.

So there is no reason the Burmese minister should have incentive sense to develop the Chin State in the department he controls. They will have more interest in the Burmese people who elect them in the Burmese territory constituencies. That is just human nature and we may not blame them.

It is created by the constitution of the country, UB, in Unitary form this last sixty years. That was the main reason why Chin state is left barren today without any worth mentioning infrastructure like communications and electricity without which no development could be progressively done.

So Chin people today are to be in unity to continue on fighting until and unless any constitution drafted by Burmese democracy forces or Burmese military regime include a provision in which the Chin people are allowed to form its own Chin state Legislative assembly and the Chin state
government in the federal Union.

On this situation of poverty and many other problems, it is so easy to oppress the Chin people by the Burmese military regime as their plan to starve the Chin people has been the ripe time to smash them to their extinction while the Chin people are weak and disabled to resist them. Thus the Chin people to leave their homeland in thousands to foreign land at this time could be comparable to the people of ancient Israel to flee to Egypt to be under Egyptian slavery bondage.

The Chin people who leave their home land are exactly in slavery bondage in foreign land though they think themselves working with no dignity as refugees and immigrants in foreign land. It is like submitting themselves to be in slavery bondage same as ancient Israel surrendered themselves to Egyptian slavery bondage.

So what the Chin people should do to return to their God promised land is to take part in the fight against this Burmese military regime to remove them and establish Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin State government in the Chin territory known as Chinland. That is what the almighty God give His promise to His elected Chin people as they have created their Chinland
as Chin Christian state in which not less than 80% of the Chinland population has been all Christians.

If there is Chin State government, several departments in the Chin state will be under the control of the Chin state government which is to be formed of the Chin ministers elected by the Chin people from the Chin State constituencies.

If a minister in the Chin state government do not make any progress in the departments he controls under his ministry, he could be removed at the general election by not giving him votes any more by the Chin state constituency. That will be the way how to give a minister in the Chin state government to give him incentive sense to develop the departments under the minister's control.

We know that Captain Mang Tung Nung had proposed federalism in 1961-62 as he could see this problem by that time so that the Chin State would have its own Chin State Legislative Assembly and Chin state government in federal Union. But it was not widely known by the Chin people for his short live after that as General Ne Win took power to abolish that planning of Captain Mang Tung and U Nu government.

Chin younger generations continue on the plan since 1968-69 till today. So what we mean by Self determination, the Union federalism and self governing territory of the Chin people in the Chinland means to have Chin State Legislative Assembly to form Chin State government in the federal Union.

Then only can we make Chin state development Planning at the state government level to make Chin State and its people prosperous in economics , in unity in culture, literature and in all the fields to overtake other countries.

The Chin youths who are being educated in western developed countries can do this if they have the will and we are certain that all the Chin youths educated abroad have the burning will to serve their mother land which is the promised land God bestowed them to make it prosperous endlessly.

So the Chin people in unity are to take parts by any means in fighting to remove this Burmese militarism as they are the regime that block the Chin people to their ever prosperity and development in their territory and government. What the Chin people should know here is the world , even the UN, is on the side of their cause as God is on their side.

We urge all Chin Christians Piang thar/Piangthak or non Piangthar/Piang thak to pray for this and to practically participate or contribute to the cause of the Chin people to be under the Chin State government under the mercy guidance of the Almighty God.

We have to be aware also that the Chin people will support the establishment of Federal Legislative Assembly and Federal government of the Federal Union of Burma in which we , the Chin people, also should share our part in the common cause and interest of all the constituent states including Burmans State or States in the federal Union of Burma.

Source: Kuki International Forum

Mautaam as I saw and knew it

H. Chinkhenthang, IAS (Retd.)

The word “Mau” means bamboo and “Taam” can mean drying or death in great numbers, or famine or scarcity. The combination of these two words – “Mautaam” can mean two different things namely, the mass dying of bamboos causing scarcity of it or, famine caused by or associated with the mass dying of bamboo. To me, the latter seems to be the more appropriate meaning.

In the affected area bamboos flower, produce seed and die. The rat population multiplies wreaking havoc particularly on the paddy crop. A number of studies and research have been conducted to find out if there is any correlation between the flowering and seeding of bamboo and the increase in rat population, and to be specific, whether bamboo seeds cause super-fertility in rats and make them reproduce in hundreds or thousands. Though it is suspected that thee is some correlation between the two, so far no such link has been established.

The year was 1959. I was studying in Songtal village, but had to come back midyear due to unavoidable circumstances that will be narrated later. So I helped my father in the jhum field. In our group of jhum fields, the activity of rats began from the middle of the year, cutting and spoiling the paddy plants. Having no alternative, we continued weeding and tending the field in the hope that there would be at least something to harvest. However, all the paddy plants were decimated even before the flowering season.

Far away from our jhum field there was another group of fields one of which belonged to the family of one of my paternal aunts. In those fields, the paddy crop was good and no rodent activity was noticed throughout the weeding season. Normally, after the weeding seasons and until harvest time, people seldom go to the field. They only go occasionally to the filed to collect vegetables, or to see if the crop is ready for harvest. In that year, one fine Friday morning, a small group of people set out for these group of fields to see if their paddy crop was ready for harvest. The crop had fully ripened. It was good. My aunt’s family expected to harvest about 1000 tins or 330 baskets, a good harvest by any standard. Harvesting was to start from the next Monday.

As Monday arrived, the owners of those jhum fields and we-their close relatives set out in full strength to harvest in the shortest possible time before the rats could do any damage to the crop. We, their relatives who had already lost our crops were expecting to carry home one basket of paddy each for ourselves as a bonus. But alas! Within the previous two or three nights the entire crop had been decimated by the rats. When we reached the field, hardly any standing crop was to be seen. It had all vanished as if the Sorcar-the great magicians of Kolkata had played their vanishing trick with the crop. But it was not magic; it was all too real. After gleaning carefully whatever little had been left behind by the rats, only seven baskets full of paddy could be collected from the field of my aunt’s family – far short of the expected 330 baskets. It was worse with the neighbouring smaller fields. I fully realized what mautaam means.

Though India was still in great deficit of foodgrains and finance, the government was better geared to take up some relief measures. Food gains were air-dropped in some centres to be given to famine affected villages under `food for work programme.’ Under the scheme, food grains were given to people in exchange for public utility works. But air-dropping centres were so few and far between that many villagers had to travel 15-20 kilometers on foot to collect the foodgrains. Small amounts of loans were nothing but grants as no attempts were made to recover.

In the years that followed, mautam spread to the neighbouring Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) and some adjoining parts of Manipur, causing very severe famine. By then our area had partly recovered from its effects and a majority of the households had foodgrain enough to meet their annual requirement. Some even had surplus. One’s misfortune is another’s fortune. Streams of people from the affected areas flowed into our area in search of paddy and they were ready to pay any price for it. Those who had no cash bartered their valuables, particularly household items in exchange for small quantities of paddy. For instance, a nicely woven basket was bartered for its full measures of paddy. I was out and out a seller’s market. It was so lucrative that even those who did not have enough for themselves were tempted to part with their stock, expecting that good harvests would follow that would enable them to tide over. While some did not have enough for themselves were tempted to part with their stock, expecting that good harvests would follow that would enable them to tide over. While some did it out of greed and tried to exploit the situation to maximum advantage, some others did it out of sympathy and humanitarian consideration, or because of being pressurized by the customers.

The grim situation in Lushai Hills which was then part Assam was compounded by the apathetic attitude, neglect, and the inefficient handling of relief measures by the state government which resulted in the Mizo armed struggle for independence. The Mizo National Relief Front which was formed to handle famine relief measures was later converted into the Mizo National Front which launched a full scale armed rebellion by declaring independence. Thus stared the Mizo under ground movement in 1963.

In the year 2003, Vangai region – a small pocket in the south-west corner of Manipur along its boundary with Assam was affected by mautaam. No harm was caused to the standing early variety of paddy crop till August 19 and it was almost ready for harvest. But suddenly, heightened activity of rats was noticed from August 20. Accordingly to eye witness accounts, great multitudes of rats swarmed the fields by night, playing and frolicking with the crop, jumping from one plant to the other and cutting the ears merrily without even harming he steams. The noise produced by the movement of the rats was like the deafening noise produced by a bamboo jungle on fire. The farmers tried their best to guard and protect their crops at night time using torchlights, hurricane lamps, and holding sticks to kill the rats. But they were no match for the countless number of rats that covered the whole surface of the fields. This was the first time ever during mautaam that the invading rats were encountered at such close quarters. In just three days the whole crop was completely destroyed. As the crop vanished, the rats also vanished.

When there is such an extraordinarily large rat population that can destroy and consumer the whole paddy crop in large area in a matter of two or three nights, one would naturally expect to come across many of them even by day time and find many rat holes in the fields and the surrounding areas. The mystery, how-ever, is the except when they are in action as described above, no extraordinary number of rats or rat holes are to be seen. It is as if they appear from nowhere and disappear magically after performing their dance of destruction leaving no trace behind except the ravaged fields.

As I write these lines about mautaam, there are reports of the flowering and dying of bamboo in these same areas of Manipur and Mizoram. Another specter of the dreaded mautaam and its twin curse of famine is round the corner once again. It is yet to be seen how the people and the government gear themselves up to handle the impending calamity effectively.

Extract from the Autobiography “Against All Odds” of H. Chinkhenthang, IAS (Retd.)

[Mautaam.org]

Mautaam History

The word “Mau” means bamboo and “Taam” can mean drying or death in great numbers, or famine or scarcity. The combination of these two words – “Mautaam” can mean two different things namely, the mass dying of bamboos causing scarcity of it or, famine caused by or associated with the mass dying of bamboo. To me, the latter seems to be the more appropriate meaning. In the affected area bamboos flower, produce seed and die. The rat population multiplies wreaking havoc particularly on the paddy crop. A number of studies and research have been conducted to find out if there is any correlation between the flowering and seeding of bamboo and the increase in rat population, and to be specific, whether bamboo seeds cause super-fertility in rats and make them reproduce in hundreds or thousands. Though it is suspected that thee is some correlation between the two, so far no such link has been established.

The year was 1959. I was studying in Songtal village, but had to come back midyear due to unavoidable circumstances that will be narrated later. So I helped my father in the jhum field. In our group of jhum fields, the activity of rats began from the middle of the year, cutting and spoiling the paddy plants. Having no alternative, we continued weeding and tending the field in the hope that there would be at least something to harvest. However, all the paddy plants were decimated even before the flowering season.

Far away from our jhum field there was another group of fields one of which belonged to the family of one of my paternal aunts. In those fields, the paddy crop was good and no rodent activity was noticed throughout the weeding season. Normally, after the weeding seasons and until harvest time, people seldom go to the field. They only go occasionally to the filed to collect vegetables, or to see if the crop is ready for harvest. In that year, one fine Friday morning, a small group of people set out for these group of fields to see if their paddy crop was ready for harvest. The crop had fully ripened. It was good. My aunt’s family expected to harvest about 1000 tins or 330 baskets, a good harvest by any standard. Harvesting was to start from the next Monday.

As Monday arrived, the owners of those jhum fields and we-their close relatives set out in full strength to harvest in the shortest possible time before the rats could do any damage to the crop. We, their relatives who had already lost our crops were expecting to carry home one basket of paddy each for ourselves as a bonus. But alas! Within the previous two or three nights the entire crop had been decimated by the rats. When we reached the field, hardly any standing crop was to be seen. It had all vanished as if the Sarcars-the great magicians of Kolkata had played their vanishing trick with the crop. But it was not magic; it was all too real. After gleaning carefully whatever little had been left behind by the rats, only seven baskets full of paddy could be collected from the field of my aunt’s family – far short of the expected 330 baskets. It was worse with the neighbouring smaller fields. I fully realized what mautaam means.

Though India was still in great deficit of foodgrains and finance, the government was better geared to take up some relief measures. Food gains were air-dropped in some centres to be given to famine affected villages under `food for work programme.’ Under the scheme, food grains were given to people in exchange for public utility works. But air-dropping centres were so few and far between that many villagers had to travel 15-20 kilometers on foot to collect the foodgrains. Small amounts of loans were nothing but grants as no attempts were made to recover.

In the years that followed, mautam spread to the neighbouring Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) and some adjoining parts of Manipur, causing very severe famine. By then our area had partly recovered from its effects and a majority of the households had foodgrain enough to meet their annual requirement. Some even had surplus. One’s misfortune is another’s fortune. Streams of people from the affected areas flowed into our area in search of paddy and they were ready to pay any price for it. Those who had no cash bartered their valuables, particularly household items in exchange for small quantities of paddy. For instance, a nicely woven basket was bartered for its full measures of paddy. I was out and out a seller’s market. It was so lucrative that even those who did not have enough for themselves were tempted to part with their stock, expecting that good harvests would follow that would enable them to tide over. While some did not have enough for themselves were tempted to part with their stock, expecting that good harvests would follow that would enable them to tide over. While some did it out of greed and tried to exploit the situation to maximum advantage, some others did it out of sympathy and humanitarian consideration, or because of being pressurized by the customers.

The grim situation in Lushai Hills which was then part Assam was compounded by the apathetic attitude, neglect, and the inefficient handling of relief measures by the state government which resulted in the Mizo armed struggle for independence. The Mizo National Relief Front which was formed to handle famine relief measures was later converted into the Mizo National Front which launched a full scale armed rebellion by declaring independence. Thus stared the Mizo under ground movement in 1963.

In the year 2003, Vangai region – a small pocket in the south-west corner of Manipur along its boundary with Assam was affected by mautaam. No harm was caused to the standing early variety of paddy crop till August 19 and it was almost ready for harvest. But suddenly, heightened activity of rats was noticed from August 20. Accordingly to eye witness accounts, great multitudes of rats swarmed the fields by night, playing and frolicking with the crop, jumping from one plant to the other and cutting the ears merrily without even harming he steams. The noise produced by the movement of the rats was like the deafening noise produced by a bamboo jungle on fire. The farmers tried their best to guard and protect their crops at night time using torchlights, hurricane lamps, and holding sticks to kill the rats. But they were no match for the countless number of rats that covered the whole surface of the fields. This was the first time ever during mautaam that the invading rats were encountered at such close quarters. In just three days the whole crop was completely destroyed. As the crop vanished, the rats also vanished.

When there is such an extraordinarily large rat population that can destroy and consumer the whole paddy crop in large area in a matter of two or three nights, one would naturally expect to come across many of them even by day time and find many rat holes in the fields and the surrounding areas. The mystery, how-ever, is the except when they are in action as described above, no extraordinary number of rats or rat holes are to be seen. It is as if they appear from nowhere and disappear magically after performing their dance of destruction leaving no trace behind except the ravaged fields.

As I write these lines about mautaam, there are reports of the flowering and dying of bamboo in these same areas of Manipur and Mizoram. Another specter of the dreaded mautaam and its twin curse of famine is round the corner once again. It is yet to be seen how the people and the government gear themselves up to handle the impending calamity effectively.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHRI MANI CHARENAMEI (OUTER MANIPUR): Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the Government to a situation that is prevailing in the State of Manipur due to bamboo flowering.

Bamboo is grown in the districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel. In these districts the activity of growing bamboo flowers has been going on since 2005 till today. Due to this grey grass flowering, the number of rodents has multiplied. These rodents have destroyed the food grains, particularly the paddy fields in the hills. Due to that many of these tribal people, living in the remote areas, are suffering from starvation and famine-like situation. Here, most of the families, that is 95 per cent of the families, belong to the BPL. They are very poor. Their buying capacity is also very poor. So, the Government has to rush essential commodities, particularly rice, to these sub-divisions, namely Thanlon, Tipaimukh, Parbung and Henglep of Churachandpur District and Toushem, Tamei and Nungba sub-divisions of Tamenglong district. People are living on wild fruits and wild vegetables in the jungles.

So, I urge upon the Government to send a team from the Centre to assess the loss of food grains and also to find out a permanent solution to this problem.

Sir, you may also remember that insurgency started in Mizoram because of this bamboo flowering. This has created a lot of problems in the North-East. So, I would like to urge upon and also draw the attention of the Government to do something for these people, who are languishing.

MR. SPEAKER: I am sure the Government will take notice of it

Click here to view Survey Report.


Visit www.mautaam.org

Zokuomthawn | January 6, 2007 | Vol. VI. | Issue No. 8

Simtu tengteng KUMTHA CHIBAI

KUM 2008 EITE ADING A KILEMNA, KI ITNA, KHANTOUNA LEH DAMTHEINA KUM HIDING IN PASIAN IN HING GUALZAWL CHIAT TA HEN.

Tutung Thupi: ".....Gamlatah a um pianpi sanggam sang in i kungnai a innveng khat a phatuam zaw hi." Thupilte 27:10

THU TUOM TUOM

— Hing zin: Uanupa Chinlunthang jong kin tuam tuam nei in 30th Dec. ni'n Delhi hing Indigo suh hi. Ama akile masang Delhi ah umding hi. Tualeh Pu Tongthang, Secy., CCpur Youth Congress jong Delhi ah kintuamtuam nei in 5th Jan in hing Indigo suh hi.

— DIrectory: DELHI ZO DIRECTORY pen apeisa 29th Dec. ni'n Pu Khakhai Zou in Pu K. Zou Inn, North Delhi ah Released na neita hi. Tam Directory ahile Pu Khamchinpau Zou, Advocate, Delhi High Court in kiphaltah a sponsor abawl ahia, Unaupa HangP in designing leh typesetting ahingbawl sah ahi. Kimantah in Dangka 20/- jel in kijuah panta hi. Nadei a khatvei chiang a poimaw ding a nakigintat leh 9999371519 ah order thei ahi.

— Pawi leh KALAISAI 07' CD: Annual Conference leh ZSP Sports a DVD tamlou umlai a adei ten 9999709873, 9999371519, 9871103013 te ah order thei ding hi. DVD ahile Dangka 150/- man ahigiap hi.

— Condolence: Kumtha nitah in ZOD in Unaunu Hoinu tenna, Juliana Sarai mun ah a u Lianlal in Zoveng, Lamka a hingna mualliamsan na tung ah hamuanpi na vaiguan vanei hi.

— Nh. Mary leh anau Lynda te jong Lungdam Pawi leh Kumtha Pawi te noptah a inn lam a jangjou in 5th jan 2008 ni'n Delhi ah hing tungkia ta uhi. Kumtha Chibai.

— Delhi a jong tomkhat ana umkha unaupa M. Khamlianlal S/o Upa Hauchinkap, Khianglam Vangkhua in West Virginia a Appalachian Bible College ah BA in Christian Education zilna ding admission muta a, 4th Jan 2008 ni'n US lam juan in hing lengsan ta hi.

— Vangsiat huaitah in Zani suun in Unaunu Naomi Haumuanching Gurgaon lam ah atouna Autorickshaw tawh Bus kiphukha a, vangphathuaitah in ama bangma liamlou hi, tuamabang in Unaunu Lamneichong jong a touna Auto tawh Sumo khat Delhi lampi ah kiphukha a Pasian panpi natawh liamna bangma nei lou hi. Pasian kung ah lungdamthu igen uhi.

— Zokuomthawn New Year 2008 Special Issue ading Article, Poems, Jokes, Koiten bang gen? chite kidei a, by hand or admin@zokuomthawn.com ah 15 Jan. 2008 tan in submit thei hi.


Na theitai !!!!

# www.zokuomthawn.com pen nang le kei mimawl in i theikhah lou vang a, register jou a aki launch apat niteng in visitor 1000 val um gige a, bandwidth neu jiah a abuai hun tam mama chi'n Admin apat thu kija. Tualeh tunitan in site visitor 15000 val ta chi zolengthe apat kimuthei hi. Nang jong va en mong vawi.....bang website hi a, bang teng um among ei mah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Kumtha teng a New Year Resolution bawl gige a jui ngai vawtlou te khu khovel a amau le amau kikhem jingte ahigiap uhi. - zkt

SUUNNA

Juliana Sarai a um Unaunu Lamneihoi@hoinu[D/o (L)Dongkhomang ] u pasal tahpen Unaupa Lianlal@Danny (35yrs.) in 1st Jan. 2008 ni'n atenna uh Zoveng, Lamka ah hingna mualliamsan ta hi. Unaunu Hoinu leh a innkuanpite thuahna ithuahpi ua, Pasian in hamuanna guanchiat ta hen. Hoinu in 2nd Jan. jingkal in innlam Indigo suhta hi.


Koite'n bang Gen ?

# KUMTHA CHIBAI SIMTU JOUSIA. -Pu Kuomthawn.

# Tukum chu kimoh um nonsih ven, sala ! khat kaithop d himai. - Chinpu

# Tukum in couple lahlaw teng kisufel unlen, ZOD in daan tha khat siam in hilei avele, what is ngaidan. -Papa Zoulun

# Tukum pen ZOD saina nuai a ZOTON 2008 chia thupi theipen a bawl kisawm ahi, panlakhawm chiat vai. - Chairman, ZOD

# Tukum 2008 ZOD in Year of Social Transformation chin kiphuang leh maw. -G.Secy,ZOD

# ZSP in jong Year of Educational Excellence chidan deu khat in kumphuan kinei leh chi kangaisut hia. - G. Secy, ZSP DB

# Zokuomthawn in chu `Social Reformation through Media' chi seminar khat 2008 sung a nei ding ka lungtup ahi. - Editor, ZKT

# Bangteng hile apoimaw pen chu maisua kimutam (Personal Interaction) lei ki itna leh ki theisiamna hing piang mai ding ahi. - Outgoing GS, ZSP DB

# Kimutam na dia, program neitam ngai lou d ? khatvei a Papi Vs Tangval Volleyball match bang chu interaction dia hoi mama khat avele, huchi dan deu bawl tam lei maw. - Outgoing Prez, ZSP DB

# Nam ading a shi ngam hilou in Nam ading a hing ngam te ihijawh ding uh ahi, nam ading a shingam kitam sengseng in inam buai ahijaw leng hi. Pu Chinlunthang

# ZSP form submit un chia hing na kingen ngen, koiman ngaisahlou, tua Directory a min umkhalou chivel, address, contact no. dihchet lou chivel a umle aphun ut kitu.... bangchidan la....ahunlai a iki thugente kijui dimdiam lei hibang umsihven aw.

Pu Kuomthawn


Nursing Form kihawm

RAK (Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College Of Nursing), Lajpat Nagar a B.Sc (H) Nursing Course 2008-09 zil nading form 20th Dec. apat kikhawm panta ding a, koipou lunglutte'n Principal, Rajkumar Amrit Kaur College Of Nursing, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi min tawh Postal Order/Demand Draft Dangka 200/- a kat in

2pm - 5pm Monday to Friday sung in valah thei jing ding hi.

Last Date of Submission - 30th April, 2008

Thuchianjaw Times Of India, 9th December Page 19 ah muthei ding hi.


Thumna a theichiat ding........

Tuni in mun tuamtuam a um ZSP member khenkhat te SSC saina nuai ah Section Officer(Audit) exam tou ua, ahing lawchin na ding un ithumna te uah thumpi chiat vai.

Dear Members, We wish you ALL THE BEST IN YOUR S.O.(Audit) Exam. May God bless you with his abundant blessings.

- Co-Ordinators, Study Forum


Tutung issue nh NGAHNEICHING munirka phattuam ngaina ahia, ama tung ah kipah thu igen uhi.

Ginlelna/muonmawna

By S. Thangsuanmung

Ginlelna i chi diai muanmawna in kituahmawna; kituahmawna in kikhenna; kikhenna in `Nou' `Kou" piangsah hi.

Heisung ah um nanlei Zoute kituah thei louna leh kituahmawna bulpi khat ahile `kigenlelna' ahi hi. Tam Delhi leh akimvel a um Zou ten jong ginlelna kihasua thei nai tuamlou hi. Lamkai' lamkaithei' ataltahdeu leh a senior deu kichite'n tam ginlelna a paithei lou jiah un ipawlpi te leh khat leh khat kituahmawna umsah a, piangsh gige hi. `Amau Zou tahtah hisih uh; amau pen tua bawng te hi; amau khumte, atuachi deute ahi ukhu.....' is the basic cause of disunity amongst the Zou and here in Delhi itself.

Zou na ngainat a Zou tahtah kahi nakichile:

1. Zou kichi tengteng leh Zou a um tengteng khentuam neilou a na it a napuihuai jaw angai hi.

2. ZOu te kipawlkhawmna ah alamkaipen; asempen; atuahtampen hi inlen, agen tampen leh soisel pen hivawt sin.

3. Zou kichi tengteng sih le tang innasem in, ding inlen, amau tung ah semlou/bawllou in vaihawm sawm sin.

4. Na thu gen ah pilvang mama in; kamkhat nagen khial kha in tuipi suah sah thei hi.

5. Na laigial ah pilvang kia in,Controversy um leh umthei sil/thu nagial khah leh mipilvang joulou nahina kilanggiap hi.

6. Zou te koikoi ahia chin suut in genkoi sin; natheichian nuom leh UZO Danbupi vaphet inlen, tuachin namot lam nathei pan bep ding hi.

7. Zou sung a ham tuamtuam te simmaw in chiamnui sin; nang hamjat jong Zou hamte lah a chikhat ahigiap hi.

8. Beh le phung suut in buai sin; nangma beh le phung maimai jong namdang leh jatdang a na koite lah ah um deidoi veve hi.

9. Zou sung a um beh le phung te akikim/akibang (equal) in ngaisutna nei in. Zou sung hidiahdeu leh Zou sung hilou deu chite a umsih a, um ngai lou ding hi.

10. Amau guungal lamte; a Haidawi hamte;a Khuangnung hamte, a Thangkhal hamte, khute, khumte chi umsah sin. Na lungsim neulamtah min thei khava.

11. Zou chipen Bu(Buhum) seep bang a seepchiil thei ahi sih chi thei in.

12. Lamka leh Singngat leh akimvel a Zou umte guah Zou tahtah/hidiah in koi sin; nang sang a Zou it jaw, hijaw leh Zou ham chie jang muntuam leh gamtuam ah asing asang in um hi.

Innsung; nu le pa, khotang, nampi sung leh gam khat le khat kituahtheilouna leh kikhen vadiangna pen kiginlelna a um chiang hinuam hi. tua ahijiah in - "ka Zou mipite leh Zovontawite munchin-gamchin, leitung kil li (4) sung a umte hambang ka huaijaw a, ka sung ua kituah kilemna'n vai ahawm jing thei nadin, Pa aw ! pilna leh theisiamna chiimtah eiguan jawbou in" chi ithumna uh hita hen. Amen.

[Share my views at mungsuantak@yahoo.com]