Right now, as I’m typing this, there is a noisy ‘thaabal’ at Keisampat junction.
As going by newspaper reports, there are other ‘thaabals’ elsewhere also. May be, they are celebrating the end of the high school leaving examinations.
As I can hear it right at the moment, the beat is certainly techno! I have no idea if they are bringing all the instruments for the techno beat right at the place of the ‘thaabal’. Or, is it some pre-recorded thing? I thought of going out and see for myself what the arrangements are. But, somehow, I can’t persuade myself to put on a pair of trousers at these hours and go out.
So, as I hear it right now, it is a techno thaabal!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
To the movie
It was 2.30 at the afternoon when I was having my lunch. I was in the middle of my lunch when I heard a huge short circuit with a loud explosion from the direction of the sub station in the Keisampat power house just across the Nambul. Nambul, by the way, has become a wide, smelly and open sewage, at least, in the stretch that runs over our leikai.
Hearing that explosion, I said to myself—‘This time for how many days? For how many days have we to go without electricity?’
In the evening, when I went out to the reading room, I made enquiries at their office, which is along the way. They replied that workmen were already attending to the problem and they were trying to restore services. I wanted to know if we could, by any chance, get power at night. They replied they were trying their best, which I thought was another way of telling us that we had to go electricity at night.
At the reading room, there were only 3 or 4 dailies (I don’t what happens to the rest of the dailies). When I finished reading them it was not even 5 in the evening.
We would be having a night without electricity and there I was out of the reading room before 5 pm. So, why should not I grab the opportunity that presented itself?
In another words, I’ve been trying to find time for going to a movie by the director named O. Gautam. I’ve not seen a movie by this director, I mean, not until this evening.
So, I went to the movie. It was the 5 pm show.
Hearing that explosion, I said to myself—‘This time for how many days? For how many days have we to go without electricity?’
In the evening, when I went out to the reading room, I made enquiries at their office, which is along the way. They replied that workmen were already attending to the problem and they were trying to restore services. I wanted to know if we could, by any chance, get power at night. They replied they were trying their best, which I thought was another way of telling us that we had to go electricity at night.
At the reading room, there were only 3 or 4 dailies (I don’t what happens to the rest of the dailies). When I finished reading them it was not even 5 in the evening.
We would be having a night without electricity and there I was out of the reading room before 5 pm. So, why should not I grab the opportunity that presented itself?
In another words, I’ve been trying to find time for going to a movie by the director named O. Gautam. I’ve not seen a movie by this director, I mean, not until this evening.
So, I went to the movie. It was the 5 pm show.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Pattern making!
The Chief Minister has just returned from Delhi.
Here we have an interesting pattern in the Chief Minister’s Delhi visits. As soon as the results of the Assembly election were out, he got himself sworn in as the Chief Minister and went to Delhi the next day.
After several days in the capital, he returned here with a list of 6 new ministers which were ostensibly approved by the Congress Party high command.
Then the inaugural Assembly session began.
Just after the Assembly session, he dashed off to Delhi again. This time he was to meet the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman for finalizing the plan outlay of the State.
That he arrived here on the 28th of March means that he has to immediately start focusing his attention on the closing of budgetary accounts for the State.
He has only 3 full working days for the purpose.
This ‘interesting pattern’ of the Chief Minister’s Delhi visit totally silences the dissident voices of the aspiring ministers. Right now in Imphal, it is almost out of fashion for any MLA to publicly ask for the expansion of the State’s new government. Please note there are still 5 new ministers to be inducted to the government.
It’s a very skillful ‘pattern making’ on the part of the Chief Minster!
Here we have an interesting pattern in the Chief Minister’s Delhi visits. As soon as the results of the Assembly election were out, he got himself sworn in as the Chief Minister and went to Delhi the next day.
After several days in the capital, he returned here with a list of 6 new ministers which were ostensibly approved by the Congress Party high command.
Then the inaugural Assembly session began.
Just after the Assembly session, he dashed off to Delhi again. This time he was to meet the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman for finalizing the plan outlay of the State.
That he arrived here on the 28th of March means that he has to immediately start focusing his attention on the closing of budgetary accounts for the State.
He has only 3 full working days for the purpose.
This ‘interesting pattern’ of the Chief Minister’s Delhi visit totally silences the dissident voices of the aspiring ministers. Right now in Imphal, it is almost out of fashion for any MLA to publicly ask for the expansion of the State’s new government. Please note there are still 5 new ministers to be inducted to the government.
It’s a very skillful ‘pattern making’ on the part of the Chief Minster!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Out of action!
Last night, both broadband and the dial up services went out of action!
My DSL was not working all day long yesterday. That was the same case on the day before yesterday also. It was working that night.
In the meantime, BSNL pulled out a very prominent half page ad proclaiming that their broadband service was the ultimate despite its cheap pricing. It said more than 200 subscribers are already enjoying this ‘ultimate’ service. It also said that applications forms are also available for those willing to get a new connection.
Here I’m being not able to log into the service for several days now.
So, I’m continuing my log book and after a week I’ll decide what should I do.
My DSL was not working all day long yesterday. That was the same case on the day before yesterday also. It was working that night.
In the meantime, BSNL pulled out a very prominent half page ad proclaiming that their broadband service was the ultimate despite its cheap pricing. It said more than 200 subscribers are already enjoying this ‘ultimate’ service. It also said that applications forms are also available for those willing to get a new connection.
Here I’m being not able to log into the service for several days now.
So, I’m continuing my log book and after a week I’ll decide what should I do.
Monday, March 26, 2007
My logbook!
My friend at the furniture showroom(which, by the way, is occupying one of my shop spaces) is also frustrated by the unpredictability of the availability of electricity. So, we collaborated at the compiling of the following log book!
My idea is not to go for any blame game. All I’m trying to achieve is to find out how my life gets enriched by the recently acquired DSL account. But I also found out whenever I got electricity the DSL service was not working. So, the DSL service was also included in the log after some days of starting it.
My DSL is not working most of the time. I ended up posting in this blog by using my old dial up service!
The log book:
18th March
-upto 11 am
-from 2 pm
-from 8.30 pm
19th
-from 11 am
-upto 1 pm
-from 8.30 pm
20th
-by 10 am up to 11 am
-from 2 pm.
-up to 5.20 pm(both my friend and I went out)
-still at 6.45 pm and all throughout the night.
21st
-from 11 am
-upto 12 noon
-from12.20 pm
-up to 2.10 pm
-from 5.10 pm
22nd
-from 11 am
-up to 2 pm -DSL not working at night.
23rd
-from 9 am
-upto 9.30 am
-from 10 am
-up to 10.15 am
-from 2 pm
-up to 6 pm
-from 7.30 pm -DSL not working all throuhgout the day;ok at night
24th
-from 11 am
-upto 2 pm. –DSL not working at night.
My idea is not to go for any blame game. All I’m trying to achieve is to find out how my life gets enriched by the recently acquired DSL account. But I also found out whenever I got electricity the DSL service was not working. So, the DSL service was also included in the log after some days of starting it.
My DSL is not working most of the time. I ended up posting in this blog by using my old dial up service!
The log book:
18th March
-upto 11 am
-from 2 pm
-from 8.30 pm
19th
-from 11 am
-upto 1 pm
-from 8.30 pm
20th
-by 10 am up to 11 am
-from 2 pm.
-up to 5.20 pm(both my friend and I went out)
-still at 6.45 pm and all throughout the night.
21st
-from 11 am
-upto 12 noon
-from12.20 pm
-up to 2.10 pm
-from 5.10 pm
22nd
-from 11 am
-up to 2 pm -DSL not working at night.
23rd
-from 9 am
-upto 9.30 am
-from 10 am
-up to 10.15 am
-from 2 pm
-up to 6 pm
-from 7.30 pm -DSL not working all throuhgout the day;ok at night
24th
-from 11 am
-upto 2 pm. –DSL not working at night.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
One detail.
I wanted to note this detail in my last post itself. But I was so in a hurry. I’m sorry that I have to continue to post in a hurry for some times to come.
Nobody has no clear idea what’s actually happening in and around Khengjoi. It is the region where there was this continuing accusation and counteraccusation regarding the herding of some 400 Kuki villagers inside some pre-arranged camps inside Burma. First accusation was that this was done by a particular rebel group of Manipur with the open participation of Burmese Army. The rebel group invited some media personnel to show that the villagers were where they should be—in their villages.
The media personnel go there when either the rebels groups or the Indian military want to show something to them. There is no independent reporting from the region.
So, when I said there might be an emerging military stalemate, it’s all my personal conjecture. But all these exercises remind me of one particular press handout by PIB(Defence Wing).
It told the story of how one Lt Col of Indian military met his end in the Khengjoi region. One fine morning, this Lt Col noticed that there were some unusual leaf movements just at the vicinity of his camp. He quickly summoned his soldiers and ordered to fire some rockets at the spot. The soldiers did fire the rockets but in their haste, the first projectile itself hit a tree branch nearby, recoiled back and exploded near them.
The Lt Col got a direct hit from the explosion of the rocket.
Finally, the press handout noted that it was an accident and it had nothing to do with rebel fire!
But going through the press handout clearly convey the underlying uneasiness amongst the soldiers of the Indian army in the battle fields in and around Khengjoi.
As I had already noted in my last post, there might just be a military stalemate developing there.
Nobody has no clear idea what’s actually happening in and around Khengjoi. It is the region where there was this continuing accusation and counteraccusation regarding the herding of some 400 Kuki villagers inside some pre-arranged camps inside Burma. First accusation was that this was done by a particular rebel group of Manipur with the open participation of Burmese Army. The rebel group invited some media personnel to show that the villagers were where they should be—in their villages.
The media personnel go there when either the rebels groups or the Indian military want to show something to them. There is no independent reporting from the region.
So, when I said there might be an emerging military stalemate, it’s all my personal conjecture. But all these exercises remind me of one particular press handout by PIB(Defence Wing).
It told the story of how one Lt Col of Indian military met his end in the Khengjoi region. One fine morning, this Lt Col noticed that there were some unusual leaf movements just at the vicinity of his camp. He quickly summoned his soldiers and ordered to fire some rockets at the spot. The soldiers did fire the rockets but in their haste, the first projectile itself hit a tree branch nearby, recoiled back and exploded near them.
The Lt Col got a direct hit from the explosion of the rocket.
Finally, the press handout noted that it was an accident and it had nothing to do with rebel fire!
But going through the press handout clearly convey the underlying uneasiness amongst the soldiers of the Indian army in the battle fields in and around Khengjoi.
As I had already noted in my last post, there might just be a military stalemate developing there.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Is there a military stalemate?
We had a bandh today. It was called by Kuki civil society organizations in protest against the alleged kidnapping of more than 300 Kuki villagers along the India Burma border.
One rebel group here accused the bandh sponsors of conniving with military intelligence. I think it’s too harsh to accuse a whole community of such misdeeds. But a bandh of such nature should materialize at all is a very significant development.
The unsaid words behind the bandh are the likelihood of an emerging military stalemate along the India Burma border. Even if the Kuki civil society organizations have a cordial ‘working relations’ with the Indian military establishment, there would not be a necessity to go to such recourse as calling a bandh in case the Indian military have the wherewithal to dislodge the rebel militias within a given timeframe.
If a stalemate begins to emerge there, then a quagmire would be not very far behind. It’s because when the rain comes the conditions in the road less mountains would be hellish. It would be just the perfect recipe for a military quagmire.
One rebel group here accused the bandh sponsors of conniving with military intelligence. I think it’s too harsh to accuse a whole community of such misdeeds. But a bandh of such nature should materialize at all is a very significant development.
The unsaid words behind the bandh are the likelihood of an emerging military stalemate along the India Burma border. Even if the Kuki civil society organizations have a cordial ‘working relations’ with the Indian military establishment, there would not be a necessity to go to such recourse as calling a bandh in case the Indian military have the wherewithal to dislodge the rebel militias within a given timeframe.
If a stalemate begins to emerge there, then a quagmire would be not very far behind. It’s because when the rain comes the conditions in the road less mountains would be hellish. It would be just the perfect recipe for a military quagmire.
Friday, March 23, 2007
It's late
I planned my Cheiraoba day as a model day for my daily life. On that day, I did not go out and stay at my home till late in the evening. And I did exactly that daily chore which I like to be the basis of my daily and normal life but I kept on straying from.
I started out from the timing of my getting up in the morning and went on to the timing of my breakfast, morning bath, lunch etc.
At night, I cooked a fish and after dinner, I quickly brushed my teeth, determined to go to bed at 11 pm after a quick posting to my blog. But when I rushed to my computer, the clock read 10.55 pm.
What choice did I have? Other than going to bed promptly?
Same thing happened last night.
Tonight, I am making a lot progress. It was only 10 minutes 10 when I finished brushing my teeth.
I’ll try to keep this pattern.
So, belatedly, I’ve to say this: ‘Happy Cheiraoba’!
I started out from the timing of my getting up in the morning and went on to the timing of my breakfast, morning bath, lunch etc.
At night, I cooked a fish and after dinner, I quickly brushed my teeth, determined to go to bed at 11 pm after a quick posting to my blog. But when I rushed to my computer, the clock read 10.55 pm.
What choice did I have? Other than going to bed promptly?
Same thing happened last night.
Tonight, I am making a lot progress. It was only 10 minutes 10 when I finished brushing my teeth.
I’ll try to keep this pattern.
So, belatedly, I’ve to say this: ‘Happy Cheiraoba’!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The President of India and the Burmese Army in the time of Cheiraoba
The President of India sent his message for the people of Manipur on the occasion of ‘Sajibu Cheiraoba’. It seems that the President had suddenly come to realize that Manipur has a festival called ‘Sajibu Cheiraoba’. It is to be noted that tomorrow is ‘Sajibu Cheiraoba’.
On the other hand, it is now fairly certain that the Burmese Army had ventured into a new territory and begun openly taking part in the programs of the Manipur rebels.
Although the particular rebel group had washed its hands off the whole affair, it is also fairly certain that around 400 Kuki villagers were taken into the Burmese territory and made to stay in military managed villages.
It is in direct response to the micro-management of the refugees from the Khengjoi area. They were fleeing the area because of the intermittent clash of the Indian Army with a particular rebel group. The refugees were neatly packed into trucks and carried to the Khengjoi areas again and made to stay in military-managed villages.
The Manipur rebels’ response to the micro-management of the Indian Army is fairly straightforward. If the social leadership of Kuki is willing to acquiesce in the blatant micro-management of the village affairs by the Indian Army, they have to agree to the similar micro-management of their kinfolks on the other side of the border as well.
What’s truly unbelievable is the direct involvement of the Burmese Army in the whole affair.
On the other hand, it is now fairly certain that the Burmese Army had ventured into a new territory and begun openly taking part in the programs of the Manipur rebels.
Although the particular rebel group had washed its hands off the whole affair, it is also fairly certain that around 400 Kuki villagers were taken into the Burmese territory and made to stay in military managed villages.
It is in direct response to the micro-management of the refugees from the Khengjoi area. They were fleeing the area because of the intermittent clash of the Indian Army with a particular rebel group. The refugees were neatly packed into trucks and carried to the Khengjoi areas again and made to stay in military-managed villages.
The Manipur rebels’ response to the micro-management of the Indian Army is fairly straightforward. If the social leadership of Kuki is willing to acquiesce in the blatant micro-management of the village affairs by the Indian Army, they have to agree to the similar micro-management of their kinfolks on the other side of the border as well.
What’s truly unbelievable is the direct involvement of the Burmese Army in the whole affair.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Logbook
Today, I started a logbook. I've started noting down the time when the light goes out and when it comes back.
After a week, I'll compare it with the schedule of electric distribution of the Electricity Deptt.
Base on the comparison, I'll start planning my work schedule.
Right now, all my schedules are in complete disarray.
After a week, I'll compare it with the schedule of electric distribution of the Electricity Deptt.
Base on the comparison, I'll start planning my work schedule.
Right now, all my schedules are in complete disarray.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Music and blog
Today,I turned to music. I had already downloaded 4 songs and I like Debra Arlyn's song the best.
I downloaded the songs form here. I downloaded them some weeks back. Right now, I don't know if the links are still active.
And I got the winds of the song site from this blog. This blog is in the throes of making some money for the first time. So, it is very interesting for to witness the transformation LIVE!
I downloaded the songs form here. I downloaded them some weeks back. Right now, I don't know if the links are still active.
And I got the winds of the song site from this blog. This blog is in the throes of making some money for the first time. So, it is very interesting for to witness the transformation LIVE!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Torch rally against drug abuses
There was a rally by womenfolk holding their iconic torches. It was around 8 in the night. It seemed to be spontaneous rally from the leikai where a small kid was murdered to snatch away his gold earrings. It’s sad to learn that the murderer needed the gold earrings to buy SP tablets. And he had to murder a small all for his small earrings.
I saw the rally getting past my house in the street.
They had even a public address system. They were raising slogans. The most pertinent slogan was address to the parents not to hide the drug abuse of their wards. Instead they should be made to confront with their states of addictions.
What was particularly agonizing for me was that all the known drug abusers of my immediate neighborhood came out and quietly watched the rally passed by them. It was almost surreal!
Most of the times, I think that most of the drug abusers, somehow, can’t find those spaces from this society which would lead them to their very personal dreams. How can anybody lead a normal life without a dream? So, they are trying to find a drug-induced space where they could dream.
It seems to be neat hypothesis. But how about the drug abusers of my neighborhood? Mostly they are from well to do and even respectable families. Does this society deprive them of anything?
I saw the rally getting past my house in the street.
They had even a public address system. They were raising slogans. The most pertinent slogan was address to the parents not to hide the drug abuse of their wards. Instead they should be made to confront with their states of addictions.
What was particularly agonizing for me was that all the known drug abusers of my immediate neighborhood came out and quietly watched the rally passed by them. It was almost surreal!
Most of the times, I think that most of the drug abusers, somehow, can’t find those spaces from this society which would lead them to their very personal dreams. How can anybody lead a normal life without a dream? So, they are trying to find a drug-induced space where they could dream.
It seems to be neat hypothesis. But how about the drug abusers of my neighborhood? Mostly they are from well to do and even respectable families. Does this society deprive them of anything?
Friday, March 16, 2007
Testing the Imphal DSL
I went to the store run by my fav computer guy. My first question to him was: Should I opt for a connection through Ethernet port or a USB port to get nearest to the promised 256 kbps?
He replied: 256? NEVER.
I said: What about 128?
He replied: NO CHANCE
I said: So?
He replied: You would be lucky if you get 56 kbps!
I was flabbergasted and blurted out that they had marketed the package as having a speed of 256 kbps! He looked at me and only smiled. I felt like I had just descended from another planet!
He got me two new USB ports. I’ve now 4 of them—three working.
I tested the BSNL’s DSL service.
>> I got a download speed of around 40 kbps. When I was in a dial up mode, I usually got around 3-4 kbps. When I was in the dial up, the speed I got was around 30 kbps. 10 times the download speed means that I might be getting around 256 kbps.
>> I can watch video clips from YouTube. But there is some loading time.
>> What really annoyed me is when listening to songs in MySpace, there is that brief buffering. Should 256 speed have that buffering? I’m really confused.
I also tried listening to Yahoo’s LaunchCast radio. There was less buffering there.
When going to the LaunchCast radio I logged into Yahoo Messenger. There I met an old friend of mine. It must be 3 years now when I stopped going into IMing. Where do I get the time anyway?
But when I chatted with my friend this evening, I felt really good. It’s nice to hear from her. She said she’s planning to return to college to get a degree on Social Service. I like that.
I still like her a lot. She is the only one amongst the girls I met online with whom I develop a really close relationship. I can really relate to her.
I’m still confused how that part of my life ended. Is there an ending for every good thing in life?
Well, you will only to see her in yellow to get an idea how beautiful she is!
He replied: 256? NEVER.
I said: What about 128?
He replied: NO CHANCE
I said: So?
He replied: You would be lucky if you get 56 kbps!
I was flabbergasted and blurted out that they had marketed the package as having a speed of 256 kbps! He looked at me and only smiled. I felt like I had just descended from another planet!
He got me two new USB ports. I’ve now 4 of them—three working.
I tested the BSNL’s DSL service.
>> I got a download speed of around 40 kbps. When I was in a dial up mode, I usually got around 3-4 kbps. When I was in the dial up, the speed I got was around 30 kbps. 10 times the download speed means that I might be getting around 256 kbps.
>> I can watch video clips from YouTube. But there is some loading time.
>> What really annoyed me is when listening to songs in MySpace, there is that brief buffering. Should 256 speed have that buffering? I’m really confused.
I also tried listening to Yahoo’s LaunchCast radio. There was less buffering there.
When going to the LaunchCast radio I logged into Yahoo Messenger. There I met an old friend of mine. It must be 3 years now when I stopped going into IMing. Where do I get the time anyway?
But when I chatted with my friend this evening, I felt really good. It’s nice to hear from her. She said she’s planning to return to college to get a degree on Social Service. I like that.
I still like her a lot. She is the only one amongst the girls I met online with whom I develop a really close relationship. I can really relate to her.
I’m still confused how that part of my life ended. Is there an ending for every good thing in life?
Well, you will only to see her in yellow to get an idea how beautiful she is!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I went to the store run by my fav computer guy. My first question to him was: Should I opt for a connection through Ethernet port or a USB port to get nearest to the promised 256 kbps?
He replied: 256? NEVER.
I said: What about 128?
He replied: NO CHANCE
I said: So?
He replied: You would be lucky if you get 56 kbps!
I was flabbergasted and blurted out that they had marketed the package as having a speed of 256 kbps! He looked at me and only smiled. I felt like I had just descended from another planet!
He got me two new USB ports. I’ve now 4 of them—three working.
I tested the BSNL’s DSL service.
>> I got a download speed of around 40 kbps. When I was in a dial up mode, I usually got around 3-4 kbps. When I was in the dial up, the speed I got was around 30 kbps. 10 times the download speed means that I might be getting around 256 kbps.
>> I can watch video clips from YouTube. But there is some loading time.
>> What really annoyed me is when listening to songs in MySpace, there is that brief buffering. Should 256 speed have that buffering? I’m really confused.
I also tried listening to Yahoo’s LaunchCast radio. There was less buffering there.
When going to the LaunchCast radio I logged into Yahoo Messenger. There I met an old friend of mine. It must be 3 years now when I stopped going into IMing. Where do I get the time anyway?
But when I chatted with my friend this evening, I felt really good. It’s nice to hear from her. She said she’s planning to return to college to get a degree on Social Service. I like that.
I still like her a lot. She is the only one amongst the girls I met online with whom I develop a really close relationship. I can really relate to her.
I’m still confused how that part of my life ended. Is there an ending for every good thing in life?
Well, you will only to see her in yellow to get an idea how beautiful she is!
He replied: 256? NEVER.
I said: What about 128?
He replied: NO CHANCE
I said: So?
He replied: You would be lucky if you get 56 kbps!
I was flabbergasted and blurted out that they had marketed the package as having a speed of 256 kbps! He looked at me and only smiled. I felt like I had just descended from another planet!
He got me two new USB ports. I’ve now 4 of them—three working.
I tested the BSNL’s DSL service.
>> I got a download speed of around 40 kbps. When I was in a dial up mode, I usually got around 3-4 kbps. When I was in the dial up, the speed I got was around 30 kbps. 10 times the download speed means that I might be getting around 256 kbps.
>> I can watch video clips from YouTube. But there is some loading time.
>> What really annoyed me is when listening to songs in MySpace, there is that brief buffering. Should 256 speed have that buffering? I’m really confused.
I also tried listening to Yahoo’s LaunchCast radio. There was less buffering there.
When going to the LaunchCast radio I logged into Yahoo Messenger. There I met an old friend of mine. It must be 3 years now when I stopped going into IMing. Where do I get the time anyway?
But when I chatted with my friend this evening, I felt really good. It’s nice to hear from her. She said she’s planning to return to college to get a degree on Social Service. I like that.
I still like her a lot. She is the only one amongst the girls I met online with whom I develop a really close relationship. I can really relate to her.
I’m still confused how that part of my life ended. Is there an ending for every good thing in life?
Well, you will only to see her in yellow to get an idea how beautiful she is!
First day of DSL
At around 3 in the afternoon, I got a call. It was from BSNL and it asked me if I had applied for their DSL service. When I replied ‘yes’, it told me to come their office.
At their office, after waiting for more than 20 minutes for my turn, I was made to sign a memo stating that I had received the modem for DSL and all other related peripherals. Then I was given the modem and a short lecture on how to install the modem.
But I wonder what had happened to the installation fee we were forced to shell out?
Back home, I finally found that one of my USB ports was not functioning and the other working one was already used for my mouse. And I’ve no Ethernet card either. BSNL’s DSL service has two options of either to route through the USB or through an Ethernet card.
So, I’m installing an ethernet card and replace the USB port.
At their office, after waiting for more than 20 minutes for my turn, I was made to sign a memo stating that I had received the modem for DSL and all other related peripherals. Then I was given the modem and a short lecture on how to install the modem.
But I wonder what had happened to the installation fee we were forced to shell out?
Back home, I finally found that one of my USB ports was not functioning and the other working one was already used for my mouse. And I’ve no Ethernet card either. BSNL’s DSL service has two options of either to route through the USB or through an Ethernet card.
So, I’m installing an ethernet card and replace the USB port.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The salon itself
I was in a hurry last night. I should say something about the beauty salon itself. I was in a hurry because I wanted to shut the computer down and to go to bed not later than 11 pm.
My favorite beauty salon is run by a husband and wife team. It’s a simple affair. A small place in the ground floor space in Paona Bazar area. My only purpose of going there is for my hair cut. I must emphasize that I’m not into any other area of beauty care.
I should also mention that at Rs 30/- for a hair cut it is quite reasonable. But I also see a lot of men coming in and freely spending 200-300 bucks. In things like face wash, threading! It is always quite an experience for me seeing all those things. I even didn’t know what threading was until I started frequenting this salon. May be, it’s the world of metrosexuals.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the place it is quite a popular salon, for men, at least. The husband and wife team has the flair for hair dressing. My only grudge is that they do not take risk. They only ask the customer what style they want and they try to fashion that. I think they are quite capable of putting in their inputs looking at the face type, condition of the hair etc. But they refrain from taking that risk.
What is life without some risks?
My favorite beauty salon is run by a husband and wife team. It’s a simple affair. A small place in the ground floor space in Paona Bazar area. My only purpose of going there is for my hair cut. I must emphasize that I’m not into any other area of beauty care.
I should also mention that at Rs 30/- for a hair cut it is quite reasonable. But I also see a lot of men coming in and freely spending 200-300 bucks. In things like face wash, threading! It is always quite an experience for me seeing all those things. I even didn’t know what threading was until I started frequenting this salon. May be, it’s the world of metrosexuals.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the place it is quite a popular salon, for men, at least. The husband and wife team has the flair for hair dressing. My only grudge is that they do not take risk. They only ask the customer what style they want and they try to fashion that. I think they are quite capable of putting in their inputs looking at the face type, condition of the hair etc. But they refrain from taking that risk.
What is life without some risks?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
On a Monday
Well, at the beauty salon the hairdresser seemed visibly tired to the bone. It was around 3 in the afternoon. I went there around that time fully aware that I would have to be in a long queue at any hour earlier than that.
On Mondays and Fridays there is usually heavy rush of customers in every salon in town. We have this custom of getting hair cuts on these two days. It is believed to be good for you.
Earlier, I go for my hair cut mostly on Tuesdays. By custom, Tuesday is a no no day. So, most of the salons are deserted on this day. So, you can get your hair cut with a relaxed mood and the attention of the hairdresser mostly on you.
But, suddenly, I also want to fall in line. Now, I want to go for my hair cuts either on a Monday or a Friday. What’s happening with me? Do I become superstitious so suddenly? Is it superstition at all?
On Mondays and Fridays there is usually heavy rush of customers in every salon in town. We have this custom of getting hair cuts on these two days. It is believed to be good for you.
Earlier, I go for my hair cut mostly on Tuesdays. By custom, Tuesday is a no no day. So, most of the salons are deserted on this day. So, you can get your hair cut with a relaxed mood and the attention of the hairdresser mostly on you.
But, suddenly, I also want to fall in line. Now, I want to go for my hair cuts either on a Monday or a Friday. What’s happening with me? Do I become superstitious so suddenly? Is it superstition at all?
Monday, March 12, 2007
Time shift!
I’m trying to go to bed by 11 pm. I’ll sleep a bit early and also rise early in the morning.
I’ll be getting my DSL account in a few days. The service provider is BSNL. I’ve opted for the plan where there would be free downloads early in the morning. I’ll try to shift my surfing time during that period where there would be free downloads.
But the more important consideration is that I should be getting 8 hrs of sleep. Here I’ve a very peculiar problem. One of neighbours is a doctor. People start queuing for meeting the doctor by around 3-3.30 am!
And they usually make a lot of noise. So, when I went to bed at around 1 in the morning I was most of the time woken by the noises by 3-3.30 am and I ended up getting only a few hours sleep.
I’m very particular that I should get 8 hrs of sleep.
BTW, I’m opting for the same ISP for my DSL account, even though their service is often erratic. This week their network failed during two days—Tuesday and yesterday. There is another broadband provider who promises to give you 256 kbps connectivity wirelessly. But their track record of providing dial up service is extremely poor.
I’ll be getting my DSL account in a few days. The service provider is BSNL. I’ve opted for the plan where there would be free downloads early in the morning. I’ll try to shift my surfing time during that period where there would be free downloads.
But the more important consideration is that I should be getting 8 hrs of sleep. Here I’ve a very peculiar problem. One of neighbours is a doctor. People start queuing for meeting the doctor by around 3-3.30 am!
And they usually make a lot of noise. So, when I went to bed at around 1 in the morning I was most of the time woken by the noises by 3-3.30 am and I ended up getting only a few hours sleep.
I’m very particular that I should get 8 hrs of sleep.
BTW, I’m opting for the same ISP for my DSL account, even though their service is often erratic. This week their network failed during two days—Tuesday and yesterday. There is another broadband provider who promises to give you 256 kbps connectivity wirelessly. But their track record of providing dial up service is extremely poor.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Talking ethnicity in the US
It would be extremely politically incorrect to find fault with multiculturalism, more so, if I happen to depend on a write up in American Conservative Magazine. But we should continue to engage ourselves with an emerging idea like multiculturalism, even if we find ourselves on the wrong side of political correctness in doing so.
I’m also intrigued with the relationship between multiculturalism and lack of trust in a given society.
Let me quote some paragraphs from the write up.
***
In a column headlined “Harvard study paints bleak picture of ethnic diversity,” Lloyd summarized the results of the largest study ever of “civic engagement,” a survey of 26,200 people in 40 American communities:
When the data were adjusted for class, income and other factors, they showed that the more people of different races lived in the same community, the greater the loss of trust. ‘They don’t trust the local mayor, they don’t trust the local paper, they don’t trust other people and they don’t trust institutions,’ said Prof Putnam. ‘The only thing there’s more of is protest marches and TV watching.’
...
Putnam’s discovery is hardly shocking to anyone who has tried to organize a civic betterment project in a multi-ethnic neighborhood. My wife and I lived for 12 years in Chicago’s Uptown district, which claims to be the most diverse two square miles in America, with about 100 different languages being spoken. She helped launch a neighborhood drive to repair the dilapidated playlot across the street. To get Mayor Daley’s administration to chip in, we needed to raise matching funds and sign up volunteer laborers.
This kind of Robert D. Putnam-endorsed good citizenship proved difficult in Uptown, however, precisely because of its remarkable diversity. The most obvious stumbling block was that it’s hard to talk neighbors into donating money or time if they don’t speak the same language as you. Then there’s the fundamental difficulty of making multiculturalism work—namely, multiple cultures. Getting Koreans, Russians, Mexicans, Nigerians, and Assyrians (Christian Iraqis) to agree on how to landscape a park is harder than fostering consensus among people who all grew up with the same mental picture of what a park should look like. For example, Russian women like to sunbathe. But most of the immigrant ladies from more southerly countries stick to the shade, since their cultures discriminate in favor of fairer-skinned women. So do you plant a lot of shade trees or not?
***
Here is the link for the whole write up.
I’m also intrigued with the relationship between multiculturalism and lack of trust in a given society.
Let me quote some paragraphs from the write up.
***
In a column headlined “Harvard study paints bleak picture of ethnic diversity,” Lloyd summarized the results of the largest study ever of “civic engagement,” a survey of 26,200 people in 40 American communities:
When the data were adjusted for class, income and other factors, they showed that the more people of different races lived in the same community, the greater the loss of trust. ‘They don’t trust the local mayor, they don’t trust the local paper, they don’t trust other people and they don’t trust institutions,’ said Prof Putnam. ‘The only thing there’s more of is protest marches and TV watching.’
...
Putnam’s discovery is hardly shocking to anyone who has tried to organize a civic betterment project in a multi-ethnic neighborhood. My wife and I lived for 12 years in Chicago’s Uptown district, which claims to be the most diverse two square miles in America, with about 100 different languages being spoken. She helped launch a neighborhood drive to repair the dilapidated playlot across the street. To get Mayor Daley’s administration to chip in, we needed to raise matching funds and sign up volunteer laborers.
This kind of Robert D. Putnam-endorsed good citizenship proved difficult in Uptown, however, precisely because of its remarkable diversity. The most obvious stumbling block was that it’s hard to talk neighbors into donating money or time if they don’t speak the same language as you. Then there’s the fundamental difficulty of making multiculturalism work—namely, multiple cultures. Getting Koreans, Russians, Mexicans, Nigerians, and Assyrians (Christian Iraqis) to agree on how to landscape a park is harder than fostering consensus among people who all grew up with the same mental picture of what a park should look like. For example, Russian women like to sunbathe. But most of the immigrant ladies from more southerly countries stick to the shade, since their cultures discriminate in favor of fairer-skinned women. So do you plant a lot of shade trees or not?
***
Here is the link for the whole write up.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Images as the collective soul of a society.
I'm a fan of Wim wenders. He gave a lecture in Berlin in the last part of 2006. I'm giving below some passages from the lecture.
***
We live in the age of the image.Today, no other realm of culture displays so much powerthan that of the image.Words, music, literature,books, newspapers, rock'n roll, theatre...nothing comes even closeto the authority of moving images, in cinema and television.
Why is it that today, not only in Europe,but all over the world,"going to the pictures"is synonymous with"seeing an American film"?!Because the Americans realized long ago what moves people most and what gets them dreaming.And they radically implemented that knowledge.The whole "American Dream"is really an invention of cinema,and it is now being dreamed by the whole world.
I don't want to discredit this,but merely ask the question,"Who is dreaming the European Dream?"Or better: How are we encouraged to dream it?A concrete, current example just occurred to me:In the next 2 months or so,some 20, 30, or even 50 million Europeanswill watch one and the same film.It started the other day: every channel up and down,every programme and news show,- and I've been surfing TV stations throughout Europe -reported at large on a film premiere in London.As you have probably guessed already, all the racket was about James Bond,that knightly British gentleman,who has been saving the world from disaster for the last forty years.
***
Here is the link for the whole lecture.
***
We live in the age of the image.Today, no other realm of culture displays so much powerthan that of the image.Words, music, literature,books, newspapers, rock'n roll, theatre...nothing comes even closeto the authority of moving images, in cinema and television.
Why is it that today, not only in Europe,but all over the world,"going to the pictures"is synonymous with"seeing an American film"?!Because the Americans realized long ago what moves people most and what gets them dreaming.And they radically implemented that knowledge.The whole "American Dream"is really an invention of cinema,and it is now being dreamed by the whole world.
I don't want to discredit this,but merely ask the question,"Who is dreaming the European Dream?"Or better: How are we encouraged to dream it?A concrete, current example just occurred to me:In the next 2 months or so,some 20, 30, or even 50 million Europeanswill watch one and the same film.It started the other day: every channel up and down,every programme and news show,- and I've been surfing TV stations throughout Europe -reported at large on a film premiere in London.As you have probably guessed already, all the racket was about James Bond,that knightly British gentleman,who has been saving the world from disaster for the last forty years.
***
Here is the link for the whole lecture.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
A story of Yaoshang.
I’m always confused about the word ‘yaoshang’ and its attendant story. Is ‘Yaoshang’ equals ‘Holi’?
I’ve found this story in an old copy of ‘Ireibak’(18th March 2004). It was written by one gentleman named Nameirakpam Khonglei thaba Ma-ngang. I’ve never heard of this gentleman nor do I read another article written by him. Nevertheless, his story is one of the few stories I can find dealing with the possible origin of the word ‘Yaoshang’ and its attendant story. So, I’m trying my hands at a rough translation of his article starting from the third paragraph.
..snip..
Lainingthou Pakhangba is also known as Nongda Lairen Pakhangba because he descended from heaven(korou nongthou). He ruled at the Kangla for 120 years.
On the full moon of the 15th day of Lamta, which was also a Saturday, the first spark of a life was conceived by Leimarel Sidabi. Nongda Lairel Pakhangba was the head of the Yek Taret of the historical times, who also laid down all the canons for them. The ‘Ya-ong shang’(Nao-shang) which was built for the purpose of the giving of Nongda Lairel Pakhangba was burnt down. It was perceived as being unclean. This is called the ‘Ya-ong shang(Nao shang) meithaba’.
The Royal Court called it ‘Leikum Shang saba’—not ‘Yaoshang meithaba’. ‘Yaoshang meithaba’ is also not known to the Hindus as well. In Tetra Yuga of the Hindu mythology Hirenya Koushik burnt the thatched cottage when his sister Holika who has her baby Prahlad in her arms, was inside it. Prahlad was not harmed by the fire but Holika was burnt to cinders. Then people smeared themselves with the ashes and cinders—this is called Holi.
..
His write up is a complicated one, mostly in poetic and flowery language which defy translation. In the above translation, we have better read the second paragraph first and after that, the first!
I’ve found this story in an old copy of ‘Ireibak’(18th March 2004). It was written by one gentleman named Nameirakpam Khonglei thaba Ma-ngang. I’ve never heard of this gentleman nor do I read another article written by him. Nevertheless, his story is one of the few stories I can find dealing with the possible origin of the word ‘Yaoshang’ and its attendant story. So, I’m trying my hands at a rough translation of his article starting from the third paragraph.
..snip..
Lainingthou Pakhangba is also known as Nongda Lairen Pakhangba because he descended from heaven(korou nongthou). He ruled at the Kangla for 120 years.
On the full moon of the 15th day of Lamta, which was also a Saturday, the first spark of a life was conceived by Leimarel Sidabi. Nongda Lairel Pakhangba was the head of the Yek Taret of the historical times, who also laid down all the canons for them. The ‘Ya-ong shang’(Nao-shang) which was built for the purpose of the giving of Nongda Lairel Pakhangba was burnt down. It was perceived as being unclean. This is called the ‘Ya-ong shang(Nao shang) meithaba’.
The Royal Court called it ‘Leikum Shang saba’—not ‘Yaoshang meithaba’. ‘Yaoshang meithaba’ is also not known to the Hindus as well. In Tetra Yuga of the Hindu mythology Hirenya Koushik burnt the thatched cottage when his sister Holika who has her baby Prahlad in her arms, was inside it. Prahlad was not harmed by the fire but Holika was burnt to cinders. Then people smeared themselves with the ashes and cinders—this is called Holi.
..
His write up is a complicated one, mostly in poetic and flowery language which defy translation. In the above translation, we have better read the second paragraph first and after that, the first!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
With a correction.
When my friend told me (in my last post) that there were few buses plying in the streets, it was an overstatement. Even today I saw rickshaws, autorickshaws and jeeps carrying passengers but a very few buses. All the buses seemed to be reserved for ferrying elderly folks to ‘konung’ for ‘pala’. But in the streets, there was no sign of Yaoshang. So, there was no obstruction in the economic activities. It seems that Yaoshang has shifted its venues to ‘Konung’ and temples and ‘thabal grounds’, which in either case is a better deal.
And there is frenzy of ‘thabal’ this Yaoshang but this frenzy is going to last for 5 days only. But right now there seems to be ‘thabal’ everywhere. Very lively ‘thabals’ all around.
Another interesting development this time is emergence of the perceptible signal announcing the likely decline of the ‘Yaoshang sports’. In my neighbourhood I could count only 3 or 4 rallies carrying the torches from Kangla for the inauguration of the sports events in various leikais. In most past Yaoshangs, the streets were normally chockfull of such rallies.
Nowadays, parents are priming their wards from a very age for sports as a career. This again results in the emergence of professionals for handling this market. In such a scenario, amateurish events like ‘Yaoshang sports’ are becoming passé.
But ‘Ima keithel’ is more or less deserted. I could buy fish and vegetables but the market itself looked deserted. It seems that all the elderly folks are having difficult time in getting rid of the sweet fragrance of ‘Yaoshang’ of their youths!
Still, I think I’m living in the midst of momentous inflection points of this society.
And there is frenzy of ‘thabal’ this Yaoshang but this frenzy is going to last for 5 days only. But right now there seems to be ‘thabal’ everywhere. Very lively ‘thabals’ all around.
Another interesting development this time is emergence of the perceptible signal announcing the likely decline of the ‘Yaoshang sports’. In my neighbourhood I could count only 3 or 4 rallies carrying the torches from Kangla for the inauguration of the sports events in various leikais. In most past Yaoshangs, the streets were normally chockfull of such rallies.
Nowadays, parents are priming their wards from a very age for sports as a career. This again results in the emergence of professionals for handling this market. In such a scenario, amateurish events like ‘Yaoshang sports’ are becoming passé.
But ‘Ima keithel’ is more or less deserted. I could buy fish and vegetables but the market itself looked deserted. It seems that all the elderly folks are having difficult time in getting rid of the sweet fragrance of ‘Yaoshang’ of their youths!
Still, I think I’m living in the midst of momentous inflection points of this society.
With a correction.
When my friend told me (in my last post) that there were few buses plying in the streets, it was an overstatement. Even today I saw rickshaws, autorickshaws and jeeps carrying passengers but a very few buses. All the buses seemed to be reserved for ferrying elderly folks to ‘konung’ for ‘pala’. But in the streets, there was no sign of Yaoshang. So, there was no obstruction in the economic activities. It seems that Yaoshang has shifted its venues to ‘Konung’ and temples and ‘thabal grounds’, which in either case is a better deal.
And there is frenzy of ‘thabal’ this Yaoshang but this frenzy is going to last for 5 days only. But right now there seems to be ‘thabal’ everywhere. Very lively ‘thabals’ all around.
Another interesting development this time is emergence of the perceptible signal announcing the likely decline of the ‘Yaoshang sports’. In my neighbourhood I could count only 3 or 4 rallies carrying the torches from Kangla for the inauguration of the sports events in various leikais. In most past Yaoshangs, the streets were normally chockfull of such rallies.
Nowadays, parents are priming their wards from a very age for sports as a career. This again results in the emergence of professionals for handling this market. In such a scenario, amateurish events like ‘Yaoshang sports’ are becoming passé.
But ‘Ima keithel’ is more or less deserted. I could buy fish and vegetables but the market itself looked deserted. It seems that all the elderly folks are having difficult time in getting rid of the sweet fragrance of ‘Yaoshang’ of their youths!
Still, I think I’m living in the midst of momentous inflection points of this society.
And there is frenzy of ‘thabal’ this Yaoshang but this frenzy is going to last for 5 days only. But right now there seems to be ‘thabal’ everywhere. Very lively ‘thabals’ all around.
Another interesting development this time is emergence of the perceptible signal announcing the likely decline of the ‘Yaoshang sports’. In my neighbourhood I could count only 3 or 4 rallies carrying the torches from Kangla for the inauguration of the sports events in various leikais. In most past Yaoshangs, the streets were normally chockfull of such rallies.
Nowadays, parents are priming their wards from a very age for sports as a career. This again results in the emergence of professionals for handling this market. In such a scenario, amateurish events like ‘Yaoshang sports’ are becoming passé.
But ‘Ima keithel’ is more or less deserted. I could buy fish and vegetables but the market itself looked deserted. It seems that all the elderly folks are having difficult time in getting rid of the sweet fragrance of ‘Yaoshang’ of their youths!
Still, I think I’m living in the midst of momentous inflection points of this society.
Monday, March 05, 2007
UnYaoshang!
There was nothing in the streets that remotely reminded me of what Yaoshang used to be. No color powders around. No gangs of youths roaming the streets. Nothing. It’s business as usual in the streets. Rickshaws were plying on the streets. I even had a friend visiting me in the morning. He told me that buses were also plying on the streets but not as many as on a normal day.
I must hasten to add that they were as I observed around Keisampat area. I did not go out today and so I cannot talk about the scenes in other areas. But I suspect the scenes should be more or less similar with what’s happening in the Keisampat area.
I’m not particularly against Yaoshang or not celebrating the lukewarm celebration of the festival right now. But what totally surprised me is the abruptness of the transformation, nay demise, of the festival right now here. I know there are still 2 or 3 days to be observed before I can properly use the words like ‘demise of the festival’. But I feel that it is for real and we will see it coming in the next few days also.
I cannot find a better word. What we are having right now is ‘unYaoshang’.
I must hasten to add that they were as I observed around Keisampat area. I did not go out today and so I cannot talk about the scenes in other areas. But I suspect the scenes should be more or less similar with what’s happening in the Keisampat area.
I’m not particularly against Yaoshang or not celebrating the lukewarm celebration of the festival right now. But what totally surprised me is the abruptness of the transformation, nay demise, of the festival right now here. I know there are still 2 or 3 days to be observed before I can properly use the words like ‘demise of the festival’. But I feel that it is for real and we will see it coming in the next few days also.
I cannot find a better word. What we are having right now is ‘unYaoshang’.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Still 4 days' hiatus
It was already quarter past midnight when I finished eating my dinner last night. So, I quickly checked my mails and after that, I went to bed. I was late returning from a friend’s place.
Interesting tidbits about the just concluded election are still flowing in. It is said some rebel groups were actively working for the defeat of the MPP candidates. They were not working for the election of any particular candidate, but just for the defeat of the MPP candidates. Apparently, there is intense bickering between different rebel groups.
Again, the just concluded election also brought to the fore the fact of Mr Muivah’s declining fortune. Now, I think that the people in the hills had already felt that there was something terribly wrong with Mr Muivah and his policies. For the rest of us, it took the full rolling out of an election to become aware of that.
Today’s papers reported Mr Muivah’s departure for Delhi for another round of talks with Delhi people. Somehow it seems that Muivah and his team were leaving Dimapur with the full knowledge that they had no chance of winning anything in this round also. They already sounded like a pack of losers.
Today’s papers also announced that there will be only 3 day’s holidays in their offices. They will resume works on the 7th to publish papers for the next day’s edition. It is to be accepted that it is an improvement but we still have to go without papers for 4 days—from 4th up to 7th. I still think it is a terribly long period of time for a society to go without newspapers.
Interesting tidbits about the just concluded election are still flowing in. It is said some rebel groups were actively working for the defeat of the MPP candidates. They were not working for the election of any particular candidate, but just for the defeat of the MPP candidates. Apparently, there is intense bickering between different rebel groups.
Again, the just concluded election also brought to the fore the fact of Mr Muivah’s declining fortune. Now, I think that the people in the hills had already felt that there was something terribly wrong with Mr Muivah and his policies. For the rest of us, it took the full rolling out of an election to become aware of that.
Today’s papers reported Mr Muivah’s departure for Delhi for another round of talks with Delhi people. Somehow it seems that Muivah and his team were leaving Dimapur with the full knowledge that they had no chance of winning anything in this round also. They already sounded like a pack of losers.
Today’s papers also announced that there will be only 3 day’s holidays in their offices. They will resume works on the 7th to publish papers for the next day’s edition. It is to be accepted that it is an improvement but we still have to go without papers for 4 days—from 4th up to 7th. I still think it is a terribly long period of time for a society to go without newspapers.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Really extraordinary!
Just learnt the following this evening.
>> Cadres of a hill-based underground group were actually deployed as paid mercenaries, at least, in the election of the Keisamthong Assembly Constituency.
>> The younger brother of one of my friends is running a shop selling chicken meats. Some days before the election day, some volunteers of a particular party came to his shop to buy chicken. In no time, it was noticed all of them were armed with handguns.
>> The contribution made by the high command of the Congress Party for each Constituency is Rs 1 crore.
>> Some winning candidates spent as much as Rs 10 crores for getting himself elected to the State Assemnbly.
>> On the election day one of friends was going to farm together with his brother. On the way, a known Congress worker asked for a lift. Of course, he was given the lift because he was within networks of my friend’s farm business. After some preliminary glib talk, my friend and his brother were actually offered Rs 1000/- each if they were to vote for the Congress Party candidate. Of course, my friend did not accept the bucks and instead let it be known to him clearly that he was offended.
If we add up the above facets of the just concluded election, it is all the more an extraordinary election!
>> Cadres of a hill-based underground group were actually deployed as paid mercenaries, at least, in the election of the Keisamthong Assembly Constituency.
>> The younger brother of one of my friends is running a shop selling chicken meats. Some days before the election day, some volunteers of a particular party came to his shop to buy chicken. In no time, it was noticed all of them were armed with handguns.
>> The contribution made by the high command of the Congress Party for each Constituency is Rs 1 crore.
>> Some winning candidates spent as much as Rs 10 crores for getting himself elected to the State Assemnbly.
>> On the election day one of friends was going to farm together with his brother. On the way, a known Congress worker asked for a lift. Of course, he was given the lift because he was within networks of my friend’s farm business. After some preliminary glib talk, my friend and his brother were actually offered Rs 1000/- each if they were to vote for the Congress Party candidate. Of course, my friend did not accept the bucks and instead let it be known to him clearly that he was offended.
If we add up the above facets of the just concluded election, it is all the more an extraordinary election!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Questions
Wow, it was an extraordinary election.
On my personal level also, it was a humbling event. I always fancy that I know something about the working of this society. Now, I know there are so many things hidden from my sight within this society. I should learn more.
So many questions keep coming up into my mind.
Is it a simple issue of choosing between a national party and a regional one?
Is it also a simple question getting some development works and getting a stable government?
To be more direct, is it the case of the people approving of Congress Party’s ideology?
Isn’t it also the stark demonstration of how some powerful sections of the society forgetting the dictum that folks have lot wisdom?
On a more mundane level, is it the beginning of the fall of Mr Muivah as the foremost Naga leader?
If so, will he embark on a desperate course of action?
I have again some works tomorrow which demand that I should wake up early in the morning. I’ll come again tomorrow on this subject.
On my personal level also, it was a humbling event. I always fancy that I know something about the working of this society. Now, I know there are so many things hidden from my sight within this society. I should learn more.
So many questions keep coming up into my mind.
Is it a simple issue of choosing between a national party and a regional one?
Is it also a simple question getting some development works and getting a stable government?
To be more direct, is it the case of the people approving of Congress Party’s ideology?
Isn’t it also the stark demonstration of how some powerful sections of the society forgetting the dictum that folks have lot wisdom?
On a more mundane level, is it the beginning of the fall of Mr Muivah as the foremost Naga leader?
If so, will he embark on a desperate course of action?
I have again some works tomorrow which demand that I should wake up early in the morning. I’ll come again tomorrow on this subject.
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