Well, it is quite reasonable to infer that NSCN(IM) is a prized catch of the ruling class in Delhi.
But it's difficult to assume that NSCN(IM)'s leadership is so naive that they are willing to be used as tool for somebody's interest.
Can we say that NSCN(IM)'s seeming naivette and its decade old peacetalk(without any tangible result) is the product of its leadership's perception that they are being hemmed in by the overwhelming force of geopolitics?
Any rebel group worth its salt should have a base area which is beyond the reach of India's military power. In the context of NE rebel groups, we can easily count out Bangladesh and Bhutan as a workable miltary base area. That leaves us with only the sparsely populated area of Burma. In those feasible areas, NSCN(IM) is effectively checkmated by the political and military prowess of NSCN(K).
In reality, NSCN(IM) has still nowhere to go. By the sheer of force of geopolitics, NSCN(IM) is forced to initiate the meaningless peace talk with the ruling class in Delhi.
Again, they are forced to have had a political undepinning to legitimize this meaningless talk--that comes in the form of demand of integration of Naga inhibitaed areas.
Now, we are confronted with a very profound quetion: Like NSCN(IM), does the ruling class in Delhi feel hemmed in by the overwhelming force of geopolitics in the conduct of its statecraft in reference to Manipur?
We are forced to ask this question when we try to answer why the ruling class in Delhi is so BLATANTLY siding with the murderers of Dr Kishan and two of his subordinate staff.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Leikai clubs vs Government of India
It's worth noting the JAC (Joint Action Committee) spearheading the agitation for due punishment for the murderers of Dr Kishan and his 2 subordianate staff is constituted by the leikai clubs of Uripok, Nagamapal and Yumnam Leikai. It's also increasingly clear that they are keeping the known Civil Society Organizations like Apunba Lup or UCM at an arm's length. In doing so, they are clearly sending the message that they have no other agenda other than giving punishment punishment to the murderers.
To my mind, the citizens of Manipur recieve their message with a lot of understanding. It's evident when there was spontaneous response to the bandh called on the day Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address an public meeting in Hapta Kangjeibung ie, Konung Lampak.
Rahul Gandhi had to cancel his schedule. He flew back after addressing a meeting at Tuibong at Churachandpur.
We could see the same spontaneous response to another bandh called by the JAC to coincide with the visit of Sonia Gandhi in the State. She also cancelled her entire schedule of visiting the STate.
After considering this scenario, what do we see at the other end of the spectrum?
The Government of India, instead of receinving the JAC's message with understanding and with a sense of duty, is BLATANTLY siding with the murderers.
They are OPENLY shielding the murderers from the due process of law.
How can we explain such a response from the ruling class in Delhi, which, by and large, is considered to have acted with a commendable degree of responsibility in other spheres of world affairs?
Do they run out of option if they let go of NSCN(IM)?
Options for what?
Evidently it's for waging dirty war against the unfortunate populace of this tiny State.
If this is not the case, then it's clear that NSCN(IM) is too a prized catch that they are risking alienation of whole citzenry of a State.
Aaside of this, what's most intersting is at looking back at the normal functions of typical Leikai Club. Most of the times. they are engaging in organizing sports meets, cleaning drainage of the locality etc. Putting in another words, they are just the welfare society of a locality.
Now, some of these societies are putting in joint efforts to do battles with the Government of India.
Isn't it what we a paradigm shift?
To my mind, the citizens of Manipur recieve their message with a lot of understanding. It's evident when there was spontaneous response to the bandh called on the day Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address an public meeting in Hapta Kangjeibung ie, Konung Lampak.
Rahul Gandhi had to cancel his schedule. He flew back after addressing a meeting at Tuibong at Churachandpur.
We could see the same spontaneous response to another bandh called by the JAC to coincide with the visit of Sonia Gandhi in the State. She also cancelled her entire schedule of visiting the STate.
After considering this scenario, what do we see at the other end of the spectrum?
The Government of India, instead of receinving the JAC's message with understanding and with a sense of duty, is BLATANTLY siding with the murderers.
They are OPENLY shielding the murderers from the due process of law.
How can we explain such a response from the ruling class in Delhi, which, by and large, is considered to have acted with a commendable degree of responsibility in other spheres of world affairs?
Do they run out of option if they let go of NSCN(IM)?
Options for what?
Evidently it's for waging dirty war against the unfortunate populace of this tiny State.
If this is not the case, then it's clear that NSCN(IM) is too a prized catch that they are risking alienation of whole citzenry of a State.
Aaside of this, what's most intersting is at looking back at the normal functions of typical Leikai Club. Most of the times. they are engaging in organizing sports meets, cleaning drainage of the locality etc. Putting in another words, they are just the welfare society of a locality.
Now, some of these societies are putting in joint efforts to do battles with the Government of India.
Isn't it what we a paradigm shift?
Monday, April 06, 2009
Two at a time is bad enough.
I kind of began asking myself if having red meat once in a week was sufficient. That came to mind some weeks ago.
Yesterday was Sunday and I had some red meat for lunch. During the night, even at around 10, I felt so full--but I forced myself to eat something.
This morning I woke up with the funny feeling of still so full. I had only some fruits for breakfast--actually, I forced myself to eat that also.
I had to skip lunch as well. I had only some biscuits and I am resting right now.
I've this hunch that if I do not take some rest, I would make myself ill.
I thought of closiing the frequency of having red meat once every 4 days. Now, I'm asking myself if yesterday's meat was the culprit for making me feel unwell right now. What would happen if I start eating it for every 4 days?
One reason might be that I mostly depend on fruits, vegetables and fish. Meat is so oily and that proved to be a stress builder yesterday.
Another reason might be that yesterday was so warm. Warm as a normal summer days, it was. Even if April Imphal is otherwise cool.
May be, my body could not stand two stress builders yesterday.
Yesterday was Sunday and I had some red meat for lunch. During the night, even at around 10, I felt so full--but I forced myself to eat something.
This morning I woke up with the funny feeling of still so full. I had only some fruits for breakfast--actually, I forced myself to eat that also.
I had to skip lunch as well. I had only some biscuits and I am resting right now.
I've this hunch that if I do not take some rest, I would make myself ill.
I thought of closiing the frequency of having red meat once every 4 days. Now, I'm asking myself if yesterday's meat was the culprit for making me feel unwell right now. What would happen if I start eating it for every 4 days?
One reason might be that I mostly depend on fruits, vegetables and fish. Meat is so oily and that proved to be a stress builder yesterday.
Another reason might be that yesterday was so warm. Warm as a normal summer days, it was. Even if April Imphal is otherwise cool.
May be, my body could not stand two stress builders yesterday.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
People with candles in their hands
Crowds sure can energize you.
That's how I felt when I saw people slowly filling up BOAT to its capacity. They were queueing up for the premiere show of a film.
I had no plan for going for a movie this evening. But when I saw so many people queueing up, I was about to buy a ticket. The crowd had a pulling effect on me.
But I didn't want to miss the occassion of Don Bosco alumni lighting candles for the departed soul of Dr Kishan.
So, I hurried back towards the western gate of Kangla.
I was merely 100 ft or so from the Kangla gate when I saw people already lightinig up candles and started moving towards BT Road in a slow procession.
And, my watch read exactly 7.30 pm. Did they start early?
There was a breeze. So, the procession was rather slow when they were concentrating on keeping the candles lighted against the breeze.
I wanted to walk in close and have a look into the faces of the people there. But there were so many flash lihgts popping up that I stood there and watched the slow procseeion from a distance.
Newspaper camera men had a field day covering the slow procession. Some even climbed atop the basement of the monument of Bhagyachandra with the elephant to click away the people with the candles in their hands!
That's how I felt when I saw people slowly filling up BOAT to its capacity. They were queueing up for the premiere show of a film.
I had no plan for going for a movie this evening. But when I saw so many people queueing up, I was about to buy a ticket. The crowd had a pulling effect on me.
But I didn't want to miss the occassion of Don Bosco alumni lighting candles for the departed soul of Dr Kishan.
So, I hurried back towards the western gate of Kangla.
I was merely 100 ft or so from the Kangla gate when I saw people already lightinig up candles and started moving towards BT Road in a slow procession.
And, my watch read exactly 7.30 pm. Did they start early?
There was a breeze. So, the procession was rather slow when they were concentrating on keeping the candles lighted against the breeze.
I wanted to walk in close and have a look into the faces of the people there. But there were so many flash lihgts popping up that I stood there and watched the slow procseeion from a distance.
Newspaper camera men had a field day covering the slow procession. Some even climbed atop the basement of the monument of Bhagyachandra with the elephant to click away the people with the candles in their hands!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Got it, again!
The day following my last post, the phone went completely dead.
I got it back this afternoon.
I was so fed with the BSNL swervice that I went rushing to Airtel office for their EDGE connection. They also said that they had no stock of their usb dongle and they would have them after 2 weeks.
So, here I am with the same old BSNL!
I got it back this afternoon.
I was so fed with the BSNL swervice that I went rushing to Airtel office for their EDGE connection. They also said that they had no stock of their usb dongle and they would have them after 2 weeks.
So, here I am with the same old BSNL!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What's happrning?
Again, I had to go wihtout internet for some days.
This morning,at around 10.30, I phoned the helpdesk. The reply was--'The broadband is ok now and has been so for the last 3/4 days'.
What should I do, I asked.
The voice at the other end advised me to bring the router to them so that they could reconfigure it. I asked-- 'Is it really necessary to do so?'.
The reply-- 'Sure'.
But I was determined the reconfiguration by myself. As I was preparing to start it, I forgot the password and I searched the BSNL-provided CD. It took me some 10m minutes in combing the CD through my collection.
When I returned to desk, I found the broadband already ok.
This morning,at around 10.30, I phoned the helpdesk. The reply was--'The broadband is ok now and has been so for the last 3/4 days'.
What should I do, I asked.
The voice at the other end advised me to bring the router to them so that they could reconfigure it. I asked-- 'Is it really necessary to do so?'.
The reply-- 'Sure'.
But I was determined the reconfiguration by myself. As I was preparing to start it, I forgot the password and I searched the BSNL-provided CD. It took me some 10m minutes in combing the CD through my collection.
When I returned to desk, I found the broadband already ok.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Enjoying myself
I made a grand promise to myself that I should be in bed by 10.30 at the latest.
Now, it's nearing midnight and I'm happily typing away!
In a sense, I'm enjoying myself surfing the web and watching videos.
When I read of emergence of video sites, I always ask myself--How will people find time to watch videos?
I always think that music is ok because it is great to do routine chores while listening to it.
For the last two nights I have been roaming the video sites.
When I'm in home made or amateur porn, I feel that it's the porn as we understand it. I feel like having a harmless peek into bedrooms of a different culture!
Does it enrich you?
It's a big question.
Now, it's nearing midnight and I'm happily typing away!
In a sense, I'm enjoying myself surfing the web and watching videos.
When I read of emergence of video sites, I always ask myself--How will people find time to watch videos?
I always think that music is ok because it is great to do routine chores while listening to it.
For the last two nights I have been roaming the video sites.
When I'm in home made or amateur porn, I feel that it's the porn as we understand it. I feel like having a harmless peek into bedrooms of a different culture!
Does it enrich you?
It's a big question.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Factoring in past lessons!
The Chief Minister told the State Assembly that the State could not collect revenues from electricity users because of the intermittent power cuts now plaguing the State.
It's a good start. He is proving to be a realist.
If anybody wishes to get some revenues from any venture he should put in place some modicum of service first. He should first make some investments. That's in the domain of common sense.
It's good for us when the Chief Executive of the State shows willingness to be guided by common sense.
So, what's the bottleneck preventing us getting regular supply. The Chief Minister himself admitted that it is the capacity of the grid. Even if someone offers us enough power for free, we have no capacity to bring it here. We can bring in only about 60 MW.
The Chief Minister told us he is targeting for 400 MW grid upgrade.
Why should we have such a terrible grid?
In my mind, it's handiwork of contractor-officer-minister nexus.
The most likely scenario is that when they built the 120 MW grid, they actually put in place the equipments meant for 60 MW one. Then, everybody concerned--the conttractors, the controlling officers and the ministers--got their cuts. This is pure loot.
When the Chief Minsiter says they are upgrading to 400 MW grid we might get a 200 MW one! We are factoring in our past lessons!!
It's a good start. He is proving to be a realist.
If anybody wishes to get some revenues from any venture he should put in place some modicum of service first. He should first make some investments. That's in the domain of common sense.
It's good for us when the Chief Executive of the State shows willingness to be guided by common sense.
So, what's the bottleneck preventing us getting regular supply. The Chief Minister himself admitted that it is the capacity of the grid. Even if someone offers us enough power for free, we have no capacity to bring it here. We can bring in only about 60 MW.
The Chief Minister told us he is targeting for 400 MW grid upgrade.
Why should we have such a terrible grid?
In my mind, it's handiwork of contractor-officer-minister nexus.
The most likely scenario is that when they built the 120 MW grid, they actually put in place the equipments meant for 60 MW one. Then, everybody concerned--the conttractors, the controlling officers and the ministers--got their cuts. This is pure loot.
When the Chief Minsiter says they are upgrading to 400 MW grid we might get a 200 MW one! We are factoring in our past lessons!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
DIALTONE!
For many days to come, I got to look for the finer prints of the often-neglected news items in the inner pages of the morning papers. Any pale hints of a budding trends? I'm after trends building up. So many forces are competing to shape this society according to their own agendas. We cannot afford to miss any upcoming trend!
I was in this mode this morning when I saw news item telling us that digging up sewage in Yaiskul area again maulded some phone cables. But it only said that only the neighbouring areas would be affected. I didn't give any particular thought to it.
But when I tried to go online at around 11 in the morning, I found my phone dead. Then I remembered the news item and asked myself--This time, how many weeks of dead phone?
In the afternoon, I was actually planning for phone-less days for the following days. I felt tired of going after the phone guys. Actually, I made plans for going for wireless EDGE connectivity.
When dusk set in, we were confronted with yet another power cut.
I was sitting in the dark and pondering over many issues!
There, slowly, a feeling engulfed me--Oh! how exciting would be the coming phone-less days!! Breathlessly, I started making plans afresh!!!
But, as an afterthought, I reached out and lifted the handset from the cradle and put it over my ear--DIALTONE!
I was in this mode this morning when I saw news item telling us that digging up sewage in Yaiskul area again maulded some phone cables. But it only said that only the neighbouring areas would be affected. I didn't give any particular thought to it.
But when I tried to go online at around 11 in the morning, I found my phone dead. Then I remembered the news item and asked myself--This time, how many weeks of dead phone?
In the afternoon, I was actually planning for phone-less days for the following days. I felt tired of going after the phone guys. Actually, I made plans for going for wireless EDGE connectivity.
When dusk set in, we were confronted with yet another power cut.
I was sitting in the dark and pondering over many issues!
There, slowly, a feeling engulfed me--Oh! how exciting would be the coming phone-less days!! Breathlessly, I started making plans afresh!!!
But, as an afterthought, I reached out and lifted the handset from the cradle and put it over my ear--DIALTONE!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Was that my fault?
It turned out that I should set the Windows to 'automatically detect an IP address' for the LAN of the BSNL's DSL to work!
I've been using a specified IP address for my computer and a specified DNS server for almost a year now. Suddenly, they did not work.
Why?
This morning I had a long talk with the helpdesk of dataone Imphal. They obliquely hinted that my computer might have a specified IP address. Did that specified IP address have a footprint on their server?
Anyway, I reset the windows setting and now, it's working.
Come to think of this--I lost nearly 10 days for merely screwing a Windows setting!
But, I'm still asking--Was that my fault?
I've been using a specified IP address for my computer and a specified DNS server for almost a year now. Suddenly, they did not work.
Why?
This morning I had a long talk with the helpdesk of dataone Imphal. They obliquely hinted that my computer might have a specified IP address. Did that specified IP address have a footprint on their server?
Anyway, I reset the windows setting and now, it's working.
Come to think of this--I lost nearly 10 days for merely screwing a Windows setting!
But, I'm still asking--Was that my fault?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
After a holiday
I mean after a holiday 'enjoyed' by BSNL!
From last Sunday, we were kept completely shut out from internet. I only got the connection only half an hour back.
I cannot find any word to express my feelings.
From last Sunday, we were kept completely shut out from internet. I only got the connection only half an hour back.
I cannot find any word to express my feelings.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
It's just a pure coincidence.
When I said in my last post that it would be better if they start the curfew from 7 in the night, I had just mentioned the '7' out of nowhere. There was no particular reason to mention it. It just sounded right.
But, when I was shopping at around 4.30, I heard the lady vegetable vendors talking among themselves that the curfew had been relaxed upto 7 in the night.
7 IN THE NIGHT? JUST LIKE I HAD MENTIONED IN MY LAST POST IN MY MY BLOG?
It turned to be exactly like that. The curfew had started from 7 pm today!
Let's say there is 'minimal' chance of the particular post of my blog having been read by the power that be in Manipur. Even if they had read the post there would be no reason to please an unknown blogger.
So, I would repeat myself: It's just a pure coincidence.
But, when I was shopping at around 4.30, I heard the lady vegetable vendors talking among themselves that the curfew had been relaxed upto 7 in the night.
7 IN THE NIGHT? JUST LIKE I HAD MENTIONED IN MY LAST POST IN MY MY BLOG?
It turned to be exactly like that. The curfew had started from 7 pm today!
Let's say there is 'minimal' chance of the particular post of my blog having been read by the power that be in Manipur. Even if they had read the post there would be no reason to please an unknown blogger.
So, I would repeat myself: It's just a pure coincidence.
Friday, March 06, 2009
We know Govt is a necessay evil. Now we're blessed with 'minimal' Govt!
Anybody who believes in the virtue of lesser government should visit Imphal right now.
For several weeks now, we've not been able to detect even a pale image of a footprint of the reigning government. One of it's high ranking officer along with with his two subordinates were murdered while they were on their duties.
NSCN(I-M), which is a rebel group outlawed by the federal government in Delhi owned up the killings.
Now, the provincial government in Imphal and the federal government in New Delhi are hiding behind the same rebel group.
See how the rebel group grandly announced how they gave themselves another 15 days to complete the investigation of the triple murders.
Today, another non-government organization, JAC(joint Action Committee) spearheading the agitation for the booking of the murderers implicitly accepted the 15 days 'extension'. In between them both the provincial and the federal governments are keeping mum.
The JAC in announcing a series of 'tepid' program of agitation like poster campaign, cycle rallies etc implied that they would wait for another 15 days.
For the laymen like us, we can only hope that in the next 10 days or so,there might be further curfew relaxation. I'm already feeling suffocated by shutting myself up in my house by 5 pm everyday.
Why don't they start the curfew at around 7 in the night?
For several weeks now, we've not been able to detect even a pale image of a footprint of the reigning government. One of it's high ranking officer along with with his two subordinates were murdered while they were on their duties.
NSCN(I-M), which is a rebel group outlawed by the federal government in Delhi owned up the killings.
Now, the provincial government in Imphal and the federal government in New Delhi are hiding behind the same rebel group.
See how the rebel group grandly announced how they gave themselves another 15 days to complete the investigation of the triple murders.
Today, another non-government organization, JAC(joint Action Committee) spearheading the agitation for the booking of the murderers implicitly accepted the 15 days 'extension'. In between them both the provincial and the federal governments are keeping mum.
The JAC in announcing a series of 'tepid' program of agitation like poster campaign, cycle rallies etc implied that they would wait for another 15 days.
For the laymen like us, we can only hope that in the next 10 days or so,there might be further curfew relaxation. I'm already feeling suffocated by shutting myself up in my house by 5 pm everyday.
Why don't they start the curfew at around 7 in the night?
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Can we expect it?
Here is the mostly likely specs of a netbook:
7-10 inch screen
Atom processor
1 GB of RAM
5-7 hrs of battery life
inbuilt 3G with wi-fi and bluetooth
Now, there would be swivel screen.
All these would be coming to us within a price range of below Rs 30,000/-. I think it's an attractive package.
But when swivel screen comes, the netbook can also be used as tablet. When in tablet mode, the inbuilt webcam would face outwards.
In such a scenario, one question comes to me: Would it be possible to use the webcam as video camera?
We won't be asking for hi-def vid. We allwould be satisfied with a resolution as 'crappy' as YouTube's!
With an inbuilt 3G and the device meant mostly for 'on the go' mode, it would be extremely attractive if we can capture video clips to be shared online.
Then,it's reasonable to expect a netbook with a webcam that has a lens mount.
Wow, with a lens mount, the little machine would be really versatile!
7-10 inch screen
Atom processor
1 GB of RAM
5-7 hrs of battery life
inbuilt 3G with wi-fi and bluetooth
Now, there would be swivel screen.
All these would be coming to us within a price range of below Rs 30,000/-. I think it's an attractive package.
But when swivel screen comes, the netbook can also be used as tablet. When in tablet mode, the inbuilt webcam would face outwards.
In such a scenario, one question comes to me: Would it be possible to use the webcam as video camera?
We won't be asking for hi-def vid. We allwould be satisfied with a resolution as 'crappy' as YouTube's!
With an inbuilt 3G and the device meant mostly for 'on the go' mode, it would be extremely attractive if we can capture video clips to be shared online.
Then,it's reasonable to expect a netbook with a webcam that has a lens mount.
Wow, with a lens mount, the little machine would be really versatile!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
A new experience
When I went out at around 4 in the evening, there was something unusual in the air. Everybody in the street seemed already hurrying to their homes.
When I walked back along the Paona Bazar Road after my shopping, it was nearly 15 minutes to 5 pm. But almost the shops were seen closed--shop owners shuttered down their stores well before the curfew time.
It's a new experience for me.
When I walked back along the Paona Bazar Road after my shopping, it was nearly 15 minutes to 5 pm. But almost the shops were seen closed--shop owners shuttered down their stores well before the curfew time.
It's a new experience for me.
Before and after.
Before I got enlightened(my last post), I was zeroing in to Smasung's NC 10!
NC10 is Samsung's newest offering in netbook category. What's most attractive to me is its battery life. Third party testing actually returned more than 7 hrs of active brawsing the web. That's excellent.
My sceme was to use it as a backup to my desktop. As soon as there is a power cut, I would start up the netbook and continue working. As the power connection resumes, I would again return to my desktop.
That's survival scheme for a place so plagued with power blackouts.
Now, I've the option of going for a 'VIP'power line(my last post). I can wait at least for some months for buying a netbook. In some months, netbook with swivel screens would be coming out in the market. All of them promise 5-7 hrs of battery life. Swivel screen means they can be used as a tablet also.
If waiting for some months promises an addition of an attractive feature, it's worth the wait.
NC10 is Samsung's newest offering in netbook category. What's most attractive to me is its battery life. Third party testing actually returned more than 7 hrs of active brawsing the web. That's excellent.
My sceme was to use it as a backup to my desktop. As soon as there is a power cut, I would start up the netbook and continue working. As the power connection resumes, I would again return to my desktop.
That's survival scheme for a place so plagued with power blackouts.
Now, I've the option of going for a 'VIP'power line(my last post). I can wait at least for some months for buying a netbook. In some months, netbook with swivel screens would be coming out in the market. All of them promise 5-7 hrs of battery life. Swivel screen means they can be used as a tablet also.
If waiting for some months promises an addition of an attractive feature, it's worth the wait.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Connection--'VIP' way!
One of my friends was so mad by the incessant power cuts that he went to the substation of the grid feeding his locality. He had in his mind a very loud complaint to the officials present there.
There, the assistant engineer in duty invited him to his office and even, offered tea and talked him down for more than 2 hours! That's right, more than 2 hours.
The gist of the lecture is that the power is availbale but the problem is the non-payment of bills by the consumers.
His advice to my friend--call a meeting of whatever the number of household with whom my friend has good personal relation and tell them that power is avialble if they are ready to pay up regularly. If they are convinced the officials of the deptt will make an official visit and make an assesment of the power requirements of the households. Based on the assesment they will install a brand new instalment and connect it with a 'VIP' line so that the they would get un-interrupted power supply.
The only catch is that the officials won't go to the individual household for collecting payment but instead they would come to my friend. My friend is needed to make a legally-binding undertaking to give payment on a monthly basis. According to the capacity to the transformer they would fix the monthly amount to be paid regardless of the electricity usage--ostensibly, they are not thinking of metering the electricity usage!
I'm enlightened! I've always thought that 'VIP' connections across the street by my house are all the products of clever rule-bending!!
Now, it's clear that 'VIP'line has got official sanction.
In the changed scenario, I'm seriously considering getting a 'VIP' coneection myself.
There, the assistant engineer in duty invited him to his office and even, offered tea and talked him down for more than 2 hours! That's right, more than 2 hours.
The gist of the lecture is that the power is availbale but the problem is the non-payment of bills by the consumers.
His advice to my friend--call a meeting of whatever the number of household with whom my friend has good personal relation and tell them that power is avialble if they are ready to pay up regularly. If they are convinced the officials of the deptt will make an official visit and make an assesment of the power requirements of the households. Based on the assesment they will install a brand new instalment and connect it with a 'VIP' line so that the they would get un-interrupted power supply.
The only catch is that the officials won't go to the individual household for collecting payment but instead they would come to my friend. My friend is needed to make a legally-binding undertaking to give payment on a monthly basis. According to the capacity to the transformer they would fix the monthly amount to be paid regardless of the electricity usage--ostensibly, they are not thinking of metering the electricity usage!
I'm enlightened! I've always thought that 'VIP' connections across the street by my house are all the products of clever rule-bending!!
Now, it's clear that 'VIP'line has got official sanction.
In the changed scenario, I'm seriously considering getting a 'VIP' coneection myself.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Fresh disturbances?
It seems that there were some fresh disturbances here. Police men were more stricker in enforcing the curfew this evening. They also started enfrcing the curfew well before 6 pm, which is the time when the curfew starts.
I heard hush consersations in the streets about some fresh disturbances.
I have got no reliable news so far.
I heard hush consersations in the streets about some fresh disturbances.
I have got no reliable news so far.
3G in the most unlikely place!
3G descended into the 'unlikeliest' place--Uttarkhand!
Actually, I'm looking forward for the news of its launch in Chennai.
But, is EV-DO 3G?
If the answer is yes, the service is already available in Imphal. Of course, the provider is BSNL.
It seems there is a lot of controversy around EV-DO vs 3G. I presume it's because EV-DO is CDMA based while 3G is GSM based, right?
But I've just read that when providers are trying to upgrade their their network to 4G to combat the impending onslaught of WIMAX, they are finding that the technology converges. The new protocol called LTE(long term eveolution) is breaking the barrier between CDMA and GSM. It's reported that there is only some finer points to be thrashed out. I should not forget to mention that the scene is in the US.
But is it good for the consumers, like us?
Actually, I'm looking forward for the news of its launch in Chennai.
But, is EV-DO 3G?
If the answer is yes, the service is already available in Imphal. Of course, the provider is BSNL.
It seems there is a lot of controversy around EV-DO vs 3G. I presume it's because EV-DO is CDMA based while 3G is GSM based, right?
But I've just read that when providers are trying to upgrade their their network to 4G to combat the impending onslaught of WIMAX, they are finding that the technology converges. The new protocol called LTE(long term eveolution) is breaking the barrier between CDMA and GSM. It's reported that there is only some finer points to be thrashed out. I should not forget to mention that the scene is in the US.
But is it good for the consumers, like us?
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Let there be private functions
I went to a 'Na-hutpa' function.
I always avoid such functions. But this time, I cannot do so because it's the function of my aunty's grand daughter.
I spent the whole morning preparing to go to the function. I reached there by around 11 am. There are so many rituals. When we finished having the meal as the last stage of the ritual it was around 1pm.
Around 100 persons attended the whole proceedings.
Besides the energy wasted on arranging for a function to be attended by 100 persons, there is also the sheer of time for all the concerned.
Why can't have a private function inviting only the close relatives--say,a round 20-30 people?
My point is should some people want to have the public function, as it is functioning it's ok--but if some people like to have a private function, it should have the sanction of the society.
We should break apart this tyranny of having to go for public function for every member of the society.
It's tyranny.
I always avoid such functions. But this time, I cannot do so because it's the function of my aunty's grand daughter.
I spent the whole morning preparing to go to the function. I reached there by around 11 am. There are so many rituals. When we finished having the meal as the last stage of the ritual it was around 1pm.
Around 100 persons attended the whole proceedings.
Besides the energy wasted on arranging for a function to be attended by 100 persons, there is also the sheer of time for all the concerned.
Why can't have a private function inviting only the close relatives--say,a round 20-30 people?
My point is should some people want to have the public function, as it is functioning it's ok--but if some people like to have a private function, it should have the sanction of the society.
We should break apart this tyranny of having to go for public function for every member of the society.
It's tyranny.
The message from the dirty war mongers
This morning's papers carried the gunning down of a Bihari barber at Uripok. If my guess is right, the place is quite near the house murdered driver of the murdered SDO.
This evening the hawkers selling eveningers were shouting in the streets--'Another Bihari shot death'.
I had not the mood to buy the paper and read it.
But the message is quite--Biharis working in Imphal are also got killed by the Meeteis; so, if some Meeteis who go to Ukhrul for works got killed by the Tangkhuls there, Meeteis should keep quite, just the like the Biharis of Bihar.
They are essentially saying--Pocket the comsensation amounts and accept the job offers for kith and kin and keep quite.
Some people are sending messages trivialising people's lives.
This is hellish.
This evening the hawkers selling eveningers were shouting in the streets--'Another Bihari shot death'.
I had not the mood to buy the paper and read it.
But the message is quite--Biharis working in Imphal are also got killed by the Meeteis; so, if some Meeteis who go to Ukhrul for works got killed by the Tangkhuls there, Meeteis should keep quite, just the like the Biharis of Bihar.
They are essentially saying--Pocket the comsensation amounts and accept the job offers for kith and kin and keep quite.
Some people are sending messages trivialising people's lives.
This is hellish.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The present tone
It is, by now, quite noticeable the weary tones of once vociferous CSOs of Manipur. I'm referring to the super abundant 'Civil Society Organizations'.
Going by the press handouts of the CSOs during the last few weeks, it is quite remarkable that they seem to be a little cowed down.
It's the remarkable success of the ongoing dirty war. We can also name it as the Chanakyan mode of waging war.
When you see faces on the street and watch their body movements, they also seem to be genuinely foxed by the spiral of events that engulf them.
Thses events seek to shift the playing field itself to a 'dirty' level. We need not talk of Rule of the Game here. 'Dirty' playing field need not have a Rule of the Game. Palpable lack of any Rule makes general people confused and felt loss.
We have the option of learning from the dirty wars waged during the cold war. Or, from the centuries old of Chanakya.
Here, it is better to write off the media complelety. The media is completely cowed down.
The learning may come from the rallies of the meira paibis or the various 'struggles' of the CSOs.
Here, we can only be optimists. Every crisis comes impregnated with an opportunity. I hope this society learns its lessons quickly and jumps to a higher level.
Going by the press handouts of the CSOs during the last few weeks, it is quite remarkable that they seem to be a little cowed down.
It's the remarkable success of the ongoing dirty war. We can also name it as the Chanakyan mode of waging war.
When you see faces on the street and watch their body movements, they also seem to be genuinely foxed by the spiral of events that engulf them.
Thses events seek to shift the playing field itself to a 'dirty' level. We need not talk of Rule of the Game here. 'Dirty' playing field need not have a Rule of the Game. Palpable lack of any Rule makes general people confused and felt loss.
We have the option of learning from the dirty wars waged during the cold war. Or, from the centuries old of Chanakya.
Here, it is better to write off the media complelety. The media is completely cowed down.
The learning may come from the rallies of the meira paibis or the various 'struggles' of the CSOs.
Here, we can only be optimists. Every crisis comes impregnated with an opportunity. I hope this society learns its lessons quickly and jumps to a higher level.
Friday, February 27, 2009
We are medieval subjects
Yesterday, I badly needed to log into Yahoo account by 2 in the afternoon. But we had a bad power cut starting from early in the morning. We got it back by around 3.30 pm. When I tried to log into my account, I found out that BSNL Broadband was not working.
There was the same scenario this morning also. By around 1 pm I phoned the 'complaint room' and promptly got informed that we should be getting it back by around 2. I further asked him if we could get power tomorrow morning because I had some to finish in the morning. He told me for the period of High School leaving exam we should expect it only during the night time.
At arund 1.30 I got it back. I also found that BSNL's service was ok. To my surprise, I found the download speed markedly better than of average days.
Yesterday, I also visited a friend's place in Naoremthing in the evening. There they got uniterrupted power supply for 2/3 days into the curfew days. Now,there it was back to square one.
My point is--we are being treated like some kind of medieval subjects.
Why don't they try to book the culprits?
Once the culprits are in police custody, there cannot be any unrest.
There was the same scenario this morning also. By around 1 pm I phoned the 'complaint room' and promptly got informed that we should be getting it back by around 2. I further asked him if we could get power tomorrow morning because I had some to finish in the morning. He told me for the period of High School leaving exam we should expect it only during the night time.
At arund 1.30 I got it back. I also found that BSNL's service was ok. To my surprise, I found the download speed markedly better than of average days.
Yesterday, I also visited a friend's place in Naoremthing in the evening. There they got uniterrupted power supply for 2/3 days into the curfew days. Now,there it was back to square one.
My point is--we are being treated like some kind of medieval subjects.
Why don't they try to book the culprits?
Once the culprits are in police custody, there cannot be any unrest.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Is this the end?
When I hurried back home to skirt the 6 pm dateline of the start of the curfew, I found out that there was no light.
My first reaction--'Is this the end?'
Is this the end of the uninterrupted electricity we have been getting since the day after the murder of the three Govt officials?
Is there some breakthrough in Delhi the Chief Minister me the Home Minister there? So that the supply of uninterrupted power to the people won't be necessary at all?
Questions abound!
But keeping other thngs in the backburner, we should not here that we have been getting uninterrupted electricity since the last 7-8 days. It has been quite a experience for us Imphalites.
I'm loving this experience!
There was also a lot of official proclamations of how they were trying to give uninterrupted power at least throughout length of the high school leaving which starts on the 27th of this month.
So, I hpoe this situation persists at least a week or 10 days. Within these days I hope to finish some pressing works.
In the evening when I was pondering over all these questions out in my yard, I got hit by a drop of water and then another one.
'Is this rain'--I asked.
Sure enough, I got the first amongsth the first drops of the season's first rainfall on my face!
Now, there is a drizzle.
I'm already give title the post with the word 'end' but today also marks the begining of soemthing--season's first reainfall.
Cheers!!
My first reaction--'Is this the end?'
Is this the end of the uninterrupted electricity we have been getting since the day after the murder of the three Govt officials?
Is there some breakthrough in Delhi the Chief Minister me the Home Minister there? So that the supply of uninterrupted power to the people won't be necessary at all?
Questions abound!
But keeping other thngs in the backburner, we should not here that we have been getting uninterrupted electricity since the last 7-8 days. It has been quite a experience for us Imphalites.
I'm loving this experience!
There was also a lot of official proclamations of how they were trying to give uninterrupted power at least throughout length of the high school leaving which starts on the 27th of this month.
So, I hpoe this situation persists at least a week or 10 days. Within these days I hope to finish some pressing works.
In the evening when I was pondering over all these questions out in my yard, I got hit by a drop of water and then another one.
'Is this rain'--I asked.
Sure enough, I got the first amongsth the first drops of the season's first rainfall on my face!
Now, there is a drizzle.
I'm already give title the post with the word 'end' but today also marks the begining of soemthing--season's first reainfall.
Cheers!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Getting dirtier by the day
When I went to Manipur University some months back, I noticed an unusual thing on the road. BSNL officials were supervising the laying of fiber optics along that strech of National Highway 39. Most of the times, when BSNL lays fiber optics they do it on the sides of the road. This time they were doing it by digging up right at the centre of the street, that too along the busy National Highway.
Another unusual thing ws that unproportionately alrge numbers of important looking officials were there at thework site.
Back then, I thought--'Looking East policy in action'?
How could a layman,like me,have the wherewithal to connect the scene of a team of officials overseeing the laying of fiber optics(though a little unusual, even then, by the intensity of the works) and Hamid Ansari,the Vice President of India?
It now looks possible that they were working at the pace to enable the Vice President to make the first call from Mandalay to Moreh. That was during his recent visit to Burma some weeks back.
My pooint--India is engaging Burma at the highest diplomatic levels as a part of counter-insurgency measures in Manipur. See the team of Tata Motors in the official delegation of the Vice Presidential visit. There are also other ligh level corporate leaders trying to initiate citizen to citizen relationship besides the intense governmental-level efforts to persuade Burma to distance itself from Manipur's rebels.
Other important facet of this ongoing counter-insurgency policy is the doctrine of military restraint. If they start to use even some heavy artillery or even some combat choppers, leave aside the fighter jets, it will attract the attentions of international community. So, the doctrine of military restraint.
So, what's the missing link in this ongoing counter-insurgency policy?
The dirty war.
As a consequence of the doctrine of military restraint the Indian military is left with little option but to wage a ferocious dirty war here, most probably, engaging some of the brightest brain in their disposal.
Let's name some of the most glaring consequence of this dirty war:
bomb blast in ISKCON temple.
Gunning downof migrant workers.
Shooting down of a reporter.
Now, the murder of an important State Govt official together with two of his subordinate.
If we jump out of the box called Manipur and try to see the proceedings as a dispassionate observer from a purely whudunnit angle, it becomes fascinating to visualize how the dirty war mongers manage to lure the NSCN(IM) cadres to do the dirty work.
As the curfew 5 in the evening, I sat there pondering the issue:
'How did they manage to do that?'
Then, suddenly, a name came into my mind--JOHN LE CARRE!
I murmer to myself:
'My, my, Imphal is now the perfect setting of a John Le Carre novel'.
Another unusual thing ws that unproportionately alrge numbers of important looking officials were there at thework site.
Back then, I thought--'Looking East policy in action'?
How could a layman,like me,have the wherewithal to connect the scene of a team of officials overseeing the laying of fiber optics(though a little unusual, even then, by the intensity of the works) and Hamid Ansari,the Vice President of India?
It now looks possible that they were working at the pace to enable the Vice President to make the first call from Mandalay to Moreh. That was during his recent visit to Burma some weeks back.
My pooint--India is engaging Burma at the highest diplomatic levels as a part of counter-insurgency measures in Manipur. See the team of Tata Motors in the official delegation of the Vice Presidential visit. There are also other ligh level corporate leaders trying to initiate citizen to citizen relationship besides the intense governmental-level efforts to persuade Burma to distance itself from Manipur's rebels.
Other important facet of this ongoing counter-insurgency policy is the doctrine of military restraint. If they start to use even some heavy artillery or even some combat choppers, leave aside the fighter jets, it will attract the attentions of international community. So, the doctrine of military restraint.
So, what's the missing link in this ongoing counter-insurgency policy?
The dirty war.
As a consequence of the doctrine of military restraint the Indian military is left with little option but to wage a ferocious dirty war here, most probably, engaging some of the brightest brain in their disposal.
Let's name some of the most glaring consequence of this dirty war:
bomb blast in ISKCON temple.
Gunning downof migrant workers.
Shooting down of a reporter.
Now, the murder of an important State Govt official together with two of his subordinate.
If we jump out of the box called Manipur and try to see the proceedings as a dispassionate observer from a purely whudunnit angle, it becomes fascinating to visualize how the dirty war mongers manage to lure the NSCN(IM) cadres to do the dirty work.
As the curfew 5 in the evening, I sat there pondering the issue:
'How did they manage to do that?'
Then, suddenly, a name came into my mind--JOHN LE CARRE!
I murmer to myself:
'My, my, Imphal is now the perfect setting of a John Le Carre novel'.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Two words procession
The three death bodies were carried in a procession towards Singjamei passing the street in front of my house. The coffins were wrapped in simple white cloths. They were put together on a Tata truck.
The procession returned passing the same route after one hour or so. I was confused for a moment but they were bringing home the coffin of the murdered man of Singjamei and returned carrying back the other two coffins of the men of Uripok and Nagamapal.
So many sad faces there on the procession.
By now, the last rites of the murdered men would have been completed.
Three good, upright and duty-bound men were murdered for no faults of them.
And here we are all standing helpless.
The truck carrying the coffins was wrapped around by a festoon with just two words:
"Henmalle-ko, NSCN(IM)."
The procession returned passing the same route after one hour or so. I was confused for a moment but they were bringing home the coffin of the murdered man of Singjamei and returned carrying back the other two coffins of the men of Uripok and Nagamapal.
So many sad faces there on the procession.
By now, the last rites of the murdered men would have been completed.
Three good, upright and duty-bound men were murdered for no faults of them.
And here we are all standing helpless.
The truck carrying the coffins was wrapped around by a festoon with just two words:
"Henmalle-ko, NSCN(IM)."
Sunday, February 22, 2009
HOW?
I thought I got an interesting post yesterday. I was really excited to go in for the actual task of making the post. But when I tried to log into my blogger account, I found out there was no internet connectivity. I even tried NetOne, the dial up service from BSNL. That was not working also.
Well, I lost an interesting post.
We got curfew relaxation from 9 in the morning upto--when??
I realy didn't care. Around 9.30 I went out and did some shopping and returned home as soon as I was done with that! Then, I charged into my daily chores. Sundays do not offer any respite from my daily chores like making meals.
When I was preparing to eat my lunch, I heard the police patrols using public address systems to announce that the curfew relaxation time was over. They were exhorting people to go home. I even didn't care to check the time then also.
Damned the curfew.
When I glanced at the headlines this morning, my feeling was that Manipur's situation is increasingly looking like a formulaic Bond film. There is one particular Bond film in which the baddie guy publishes the news before the actual event materializes. Then, he 'lets' the event 'happened'.
That's more or less same situation here.
They are 'letting' upheavals 'happened' here.
The only difference now and a year back is that the baddies' tentacles now reach the hills.
With the media forcedfully made to understand that 'they(the baddies)' are the part of the mosaic of what we call the 'actual power equations' of their present day society, they(the meida men) are effectively shieled from publishing what they think, suspect and then, investigate. The media men are unotrusively made not to make investigations.
The media is not doing its duty.
With the media in such a decay, how would the small men and women of this society make the beginning of a tough soul searching to identify and defeat the 'dark siders' who are 'scripting upheavals' here?
HOW?
Well, I lost an interesting post.
We got curfew relaxation from 9 in the morning upto--when??
I realy didn't care. Around 9.30 I went out and did some shopping and returned home as soon as I was done with that! Then, I charged into my daily chores. Sundays do not offer any respite from my daily chores like making meals.
When I was preparing to eat my lunch, I heard the police patrols using public address systems to announce that the curfew relaxation time was over. They were exhorting people to go home. I even didn't care to check the time then also.
Damned the curfew.
When I glanced at the headlines this morning, my feeling was that Manipur's situation is increasingly looking like a formulaic Bond film. There is one particular Bond film in which the baddie guy publishes the news before the actual event materializes. Then, he 'lets' the event 'happened'.
That's more or less same situation here.
They are 'letting' upheavals 'happened' here.
The only difference now and a year back is that the baddies' tentacles now reach the hills.
With the media forcedfully made to understand that 'they(the baddies)' are the part of the mosaic of what we call the 'actual power equations' of their present day society, they(the meida men) are effectively shieled from publishing what they think, suspect and then, investigate. The media men are unotrusively made not to make investigations.
The media is not doing its duty.
With the media in such a decay, how would the small men and women of this society make the beginning of a tough soul searching to identify and defeat the 'dark siders' who are 'scripting upheavals' here?
HOW?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Y-E--S
Y-E--S! They make it!!
The third day is even better. We are getting uninterrupted electricity from early morning without a single break of even 1 sec! Stellar performance here!!
Just when I finished posting my last post, light went out. I'd to shut down my computer. But there were lights in all my neighbours houses. So, it was likely to happen that the socket in the transformer connecting my particular line was fused. It was nearing 10 pm. 10 pm is late for workmen(I feel that field staff of the Electricity deptt or any other Govt deptt are jsut workmen--well-meaning workmen) and they, in all probability, plugged the phone cable from the wall socket and gone to bed.
S, I refrained from phoning them. And, I could not go to their office, even if it's just a stone's throw away because of the continuing curfew.
So, I went to bed.
In the morning, when I got up from my bed, I found the light was still out. My thought was: 'Are they going to let a lonely man stray away from his TV or PC, even on a day they found it necessary to impose curfew?' 'Are they going to give a man, even if he is alone and a loner, the incentive(by not giving him the electricity!)to come out to the streets and start making troubles?'
Even when tormented with such dark thoughts, i decided that it was too in the morning to phone them.
Just when I finished toilet and readying to sit down for my breakfast, electricity just abandoned the whole neighbourhood. How did I know it? I knew it from the start of the rumbles of the generators of the mobile towers in the neighbourhood.
My thought: 'So, are they ging to let the whole neighbourhood to stray away from their TVs and PCs and to push them out to the streets?' 'What about the troubles that are likely made by the men and women unplugged from their TVs and PCS!?'
So, there, eating my breakfast, I refused to believe that the power that be would let the whole neighbourhood to stray away from their TVs and PCs on this crucial third day. Remember, this is the third day!
Then, suddenly, an incipient thought started gnawing at me. 'What if they switched off the whole sockets in the transformer to repair that particular fused socket that connects the line to my house?'
'That must be the reason why the electricitry go out so early in the morning unlike those last two days!'
'That must be the reason why all the neighbourhood mobile towers generators start rumbling so early in the morning!'
But such thoughts were incapable of lifting my already collapsed moral. With a heavy heart, I started the procedure to fill myself up with the breakfast!
Hardly had I been into the procedure for, may be, 20 minutes, than I heard the momentary stutters of the neighbourhood mobile towers generators before the beginning of their engines dying out. People killing generators engines. Come one. Involuntarily, I looked inside my rooms.
VOILA! My light was in!
God bless my gut feelings!!
The power that be should not fail us--the people, the mass, the citizens, whatever the terms they like to use!!!
Well, when the afternnon started to die out into a sombre evening, I became weary of my computer and internet. Even then, I refused to stray away from devices which need electricity for their lives!
I turned on music system.
"You found me" by the Fray.
There is somethng in that song. The songs moves me.
POSTSCRIPT: I can't resist asking this ALOUD: 'How is that I descended into this world so elegantly hardhired with such a dependable gut feeling?'
HOW ABOUT THIS?!?
The third day is even better. We are getting uninterrupted electricity from early morning without a single break of even 1 sec! Stellar performance here!!
Just when I finished posting my last post, light went out. I'd to shut down my computer. But there were lights in all my neighbours houses. So, it was likely to happen that the socket in the transformer connecting my particular line was fused. It was nearing 10 pm. 10 pm is late for workmen(I feel that field staff of the Electricity deptt or any other Govt deptt are jsut workmen--well-meaning workmen) and they, in all probability, plugged the phone cable from the wall socket and gone to bed.
S, I refrained from phoning them. And, I could not go to their office, even if it's just a stone's throw away because of the continuing curfew.
So, I went to bed.
In the morning, when I got up from my bed, I found the light was still out. My thought was: 'Are they going to let a lonely man stray away from his TV or PC, even on a day they found it necessary to impose curfew?' 'Are they going to give a man, even if he is alone and a loner, the incentive(by not giving him the electricity!)to come out to the streets and start making troubles?'
Even when tormented with such dark thoughts, i decided that it was too in the morning to phone them.
Just when I finished toilet and readying to sit down for my breakfast, electricity just abandoned the whole neighbourhood. How did I know it? I knew it from the start of the rumbles of the generators of the mobile towers in the neighbourhood.
My thought: 'So, are they ging to let the whole neighbourhood to stray away from their TVs and PCs and to push them out to the streets?' 'What about the troubles that are likely made by the men and women unplugged from their TVs and PCS!?'
So, there, eating my breakfast, I refused to believe that the power that be would let the whole neighbourhood to stray away from their TVs and PCs on this crucial third day. Remember, this is the third day!
Then, suddenly, an incipient thought started gnawing at me. 'What if they switched off the whole sockets in the transformer to repair that particular fused socket that connects the line to my house?'
'That must be the reason why the electricitry go out so early in the morning unlike those last two days!'
'That must be the reason why all the neighbourhood mobile towers generators start rumbling so early in the morning!'
But such thoughts were incapable of lifting my already collapsed moral. With a heavy heart, I started the procedure to fill myself up with the breakfast!
Hardly had I been into the procedure for, may be, 20 minutes, than I heard the momentary stutters of the neighbourhood mobile towers generators before the beginning of their engines dying out. People killing generators engines. Come one. Involuntarily, I looked inside my rooms.
VOILA! My light was in!
God bless my gut feelings!!
The power that be should not fail us--the people, the mass, the citizens, whatever the terms they like to use!!!
Well, when the afternnon started to die out into a sombre evening, I became weary of my computer and internet. Even then, I refused to stray away from devices which need electricity for their lives!
I turned on music system.
"You found me" by the Fray.
There is somethng in that song. The songs moves me.
POSTSCRIPT: I can't resist asking this ALOUD: 'How is that I descended into this world so elegantly hardhired with such a dependable gut feeling?'
HOW ABOUT THIS?!?
Friday, February 20, 2009
The day after
I again spent all day indoors. And I even didn't go out when dusk set in!
Today is the second consecutive day when I got uninterrupte electricity. It went out at around 5 in the evening and came back at around 7. Not bad!
We also got something more--CURFEW.
The police are using public address systems to announce that the curfew starts at 5pm and it ends at 3. Is it 3am or 3pm? I could not hear it properly. I bet it must be 3pm.
I also heard murmurs in the neighbourhood that the other three State Govt employees were also found murdered in different places in Ukhrul district. I could make out only one place where the murdered bodies were found --LITAN.
It's now well passed 9 pm but Ican still hear explosions of mock bombs used by the police to disperse crowd. That means there are mobs roaming on the streets.
The sound of the explosions mainly come from the direction of Uripok.
Today is the second consecutive day when I got uninterrupte electricity. It went out at around 5 in the evening and came back at around 7. Not bad!
We also got something more--CURFEW.
The police are using public address systems to announce that the curfew starts at 5pm and it ends at 3. Is it 3am or 3pm? I could not hear it properly. I bet it must be 3pm.
I also heard murmurs in the neighbourhood that the other three State Govt employees were also found murdered in different places in Ukhrul district. I could make out only one place where the murdered bodies were found --LITAN.
It's now well passed 9 pm but Ican still hear explosions of mock bombs used by the police to disperse crowd. That means there are mobs roaming on the streets.
The sound of the explosions mainly come from the direction of Uripok.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Real surreal!
The day I got back my phone, I spent the night surfing the net like a maniac! I so enjoyed that because I was deprived of the WEb service for several weeks. I got no time for blogging!
But I was determined to get back to blogging the following night.
In the afternoon, I went to Uripok to meet a friend. There, I got the news of the triple of the buereurocrats of the STate government posted out to Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district. When I went there a vigorous road blockade was being put up by the citizen of that locality.
I felt sad--completely exasperated. I let the night passed by me --completely wasted. I even felt like losing my moorings, even if it was for a short spell of time.
Today, I spent inddors all throughout the day. I was keeping up with the daily grinds--like, breakfasting, showering, cleaning utensils, preapring and eating meals!
Only when the dusk set in, I ventured out into the streets. My first impression was that there was (and still is) spontaneous outpouring of grief by the general public. If a bandh can called 'total', this is it.
I even encountered several marriage parties on their way home proudly decking the brides in their midst. All the parties were still led by the customary orchestral bands--but they were not playing their music. Instead, they seemed to be bowing their heads to honour the departed souls. Awesome sights.
I have also this feeling that there would be similar outpouring of grief by the folks in the hills as well.
It's quite apparent that there is a gang, powerful and ruthless, trying to steer the society away from the path which is likely to hurt their interest. We can see the hands of the same gang in the bomb blast in ISKCON temple, murdering of migrant labourers, recent shooting down of a journalist and now, the killings of the three buereurocrats.
The only consolation is that non-state actors are ruling the roost in today's world. African pirates are plundering the ships of powerful nations. Mafias are operating across several national boundaries, that too of developed and powerful ones.
The sad irony is that the gang operating here will get more powerful and daring in prportion to the size of the 'developmental funds' from the federal government. May be, 'development' has its own dark side.
As i'm typing this, the atmosphere is really surreal(real surreal!). See, one powerful group is scripting upheavals by murdering innocent people. What's the response of those responsible sections, like those in the governemnt?
Their response---give uniterrupted electricity for some days, let them stay indoors infront of their tvs and computers so that there would not troubles brewing up in the streets!!
We got uninterrupted power supply all throughout the day and night!!
In the preceeding weeks, we hardly got two hours of that scarce commodity, even during the day time.
Real surreal!
But I was determined to get back to blogging the following night.
In the afternoon, I went to Uripok to meet a friend. There, I got the news of the triple of the buereurocrats of the STate government posted out to Kasom Khullen in Ukhrul district. When I went there a vigorous road blockade was being put up by the citizen of that locality.
I felt sad--completely exasperated. I let the night passed by me --completely wasted. I even felt like losing my moorings, even if it was for a short spell of time.
Today, I spent inddors all throughout the day. I was keeping up with the daily grinds--like, breakfasting, showering, cleaning utensils, preapring and eating meals!
Only when the dusk set in, I ventured out into the streets. My first impression was that there was (and still is) spontaneous outpouring of grief by the general public. If a bandh can called 'total', this is it.
I even encountered several marriage parties on their way home proudly decking the brides in their midst. All the parties were still led by the customary orchestral bands--but they were not playing their music. Instead, they seemed to be bowing their heads to honour the departed souls. Awesome sights.
I have also this feeling that there would be similar outpouring of grief by the folks in the hills as well.
It's quite apparent that there is a gang, powerful and ruthless, trying to steer the society away from the path which is likely to hurt their interest. We can see the hands of the same gang in the bomb blast in ISKCON temple, murdering of migrant labourers, recent shooting down of a journalist and now, the killings of the three buereurocrats.
The only consolation is that non-state actors are ruling the roost in today's world. African pirates are plundering the ships of powerful nations. Mafias are operating across several national boundaries, that too of developed and powerful ones.
The sad irony is that the gang operating here will get more powerful and daring in prportion to the size of the 'developmental funds' from the federal government. May be, 'development' has its own dark side.
As i'm typing this, the atmosphere is really surreal(real surreal!). See, one powerful group is scripting upheavals by murdering innocent people. What's the response of those responsible sections, like those in the governemnt?
Their response---give uniterrupted electricity for some days, let them stay indoors infront of their tvs and computers so that there would not troubles brewing up in the streets!!
We got uninterrupted power supply all throughout the day and night!!
In the preceeding weeks, we hardly got two hours of that scarce commodity, even during the day time.
Real surreal!
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