One single day which is 30th of March every year vividly illustrates how the economic wheels roll in Manipur. The Chief Minister himself through an appropriate government order instructed all the concerned offices to work full time today which is a Sunday. So, today is a working Sunday here!
I don’t have a first hand experience of how the mammoth government papers move but what I learn from outside the system looks like this:
First, the DDO (which stands for drawing and disbursing officer) checks the bills and sign them.
The bills are sent to the treasury offices.
The treasury offices make out an equivalent challans for each bill which are accepted in SBI and UBI, which have government accounts deposited with money from the planned heads of the budgetary provisions. But, as the financial year ends on 31st of March, these two banks would accept challans from the treasury only upto the end of working hours of 30th March.
So, today is the last day of converting the departmental bills into challans. But I learn that the treasury people manage to devise some arrangements with the bankers whereby the banks would accept vast numbers of challans timestamped 30th March on the early hours of the following day ie 31st March. Most of the times, the treasury staff work non-stop throughout the night the night of 30th –it must look like a war room!
This shows how the economy of the State totally depends on the money provided by the government budget. What we may call private sector here is the trickle down effect of these budgetary provisions.
Manipur do not have an official special economic package from the power that be in New Delhi. But getting roughly Rs 500 crores every year as a Special Plan Assistance is as good as getting an official special package as in the case of Nagaland, J & K etc. But what’s most surprising is that the departments which oversees the utilization of this Rs 500 crores account, mainly for developmental works, could hardly burn 47% of it, when last accounted for on the 15th of March 08!
So, the Chief Minister instructed the officials in all the departments to make bills for projects not yet commence so that the money can be encashed and put in an especial state government account for future uses! So, many important people would be burning midnight’s oil tonight making bills for non-existent projects!!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Manipur rebels, Marathis, Tibetans and the 2 nations
When we were talking about ‘Maharashtrian type of agitation’ (my last post), there is report of fresh attacks on North Indians in Mumbai itself. Most interestingly, the Dalai Lama also said that the Tibetans are in immediate danger of being swamped in their own homeland in Tibet. He told mediamen that there are only 100,000 Tibetans in Lhasa but outsiders, mainly Han Chinese, constitute double that number. I read the news on the Hindu as RSS feed but somehow I manage to lose the link.
I don’t know current statistics but rebel groups, in their press handouts, put the number of migrants in Manipur at around 7 lakhs. They said that number exceeds the total population in the hills. It seems they are slowly swelling up in number to touch the half way figure mark of the total population of the State.
This is a huge problem for us.
Talking about Tibet and China, the recent happenings on that front has already brought about a discernible change in India China relations. The Chinese home ministry summoned the Indian ambassador in Beijing just after midnight some days back. The purpose was to protest to the Indian Government regarding the scaling of Chinese embassy in New Delhi by the protesting Tibetans.
If we don’t consider the timing of the summoning of the Indian ambassador, we can think of the whole affair as routine. But summoning a nation’s ambassador at midnight is something not normal. Naturally Indian Government took it as an affront and they cancelled a previously scheduled visit by the foreign secretary to China.
It is most amazing how history takes its own courses belying all so assiduously researched calculations. I’m saying because I think we are just witnessing a major shift in power equilibrium in our immediate neighborhood. The main factor of this shift might just be a monk. The Dalai Lama is getting older and he might just be in a little haste to leave a worthy mark in history. That means we would be witnessing an increasing restive Tibetans in Tibet itself.
The Dalai Lama might leave his mark on history as one unassuming monk who somehow to put India and China at loggerhead.
I don’t know current statistics but rebel groups, in their press handouts, put the number of migrants in Manipur at around 7 lakhs. They said that number exceeds the total population in the hills. It seems they are slowly swelling up in number to touch the half way figure mark of the total population of the State.
This is a huge problem for us.
Talking about Tibet and China, the recent happenings on that front has already brought about a discernible change in India China relations. The Chinese home ministry summoned the Indian ambassador in Beijing just after midnight some days back. The purpose was to protest to the Indian Government regarding the scaling of Chinese embassy in New Delhi by the protesting Tibetans.
If we don’t consider the timing of the summoning of the Indian ambassador, we can think of the whole affair as routine. But summoning a nation’s ambassador at midnight is something not normal. Naturally Indian Government took it as an affront and they cancelled a previously scheduled visit by the foreign secretary to China.
It is most amazing how history takes its own courses belying all so assiduously researched calculations. I’m saying because I think we are just witnessing a major shift in power equilibrium in our immediate neighborhood. The main factor of this shift might just be a monk. The Dalai Lama is getting older and he might just be in a little haste to leave a worthy mark in history. That means we would be witnessing an increasing restive Tibetans in Tibet itself.
The Dalai Lama might leave his mark on history as one unassuming monk who somehow to put India and China at loggerhead.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Critiueing the orthodox Marxist
Tonight the curfew started from 9 pm. But by 6, nobody was in the streets and all the shops pulled down shutters. I myself came to know of the new timing only after I heard police vans started patrolling the streets at around 9 pm. But it’s better. There are a lot of problems if we have to close day’s business by 6 in the evening.
One paper carried the full text of a press handout of a rebel group. All other papers are serializing it. The rebel group is the one which the Chief Minister accused of being the perpetrator of the recent killings of the migrant workers.
It reiterated that it had nothing to do with the killings.
But the most interesting part comes when it made its point that the orthodox Marxian view that the proletariat, be it Indian or others, are not the enemies of a revolution is no longer valid. We have to remember here that one leading rebel group had reiterated oft repeated stance that the migrant workers are not enemies.
But today’s press statement by this group not only said that the orthodox Marxian is no longer tenable but also said that the migrant workers, part of the soft Indian power, are more dangerous that the hard part like the military. But it hastened to add that it did not approve the random shooting down of the workers. Instead, it wants to organize people against the soft power of the Indian State, of which the migrant workers form a part.
So, we can safely conclude there might more Maharastrian type of agitation here.
One paper carried the full text of a press handout of a rebel group. All other papers are serializing it. The rebel group is the one which the Chief Minister accused of being the perpetrator of the recent killings of the migrant workers.
It reiterated that it had nothing to do with the killings.
But the most interesting part comes when it made its point that the orthodox Marxian view that the proletariat, be it Indian or others, are not the enemies of a revolution is no longer valid. We have to remember here that one leading rebel group had reiterated oft repeated stance that the migrant workers are not enemies.
But today’s press statement by this group not only said that the orthodox Marxian is no longer tenable but also said that the migrant workers, part of the soft Indian power, are more dangerous that the hard part like the military. But it hastened to add that it did not approve the random shooting down of the workers. Instead, it wants to organize people against the soft power of the Indian State, of which the migrant workers form a part.
So, we can safely conclude there might more Maharastrian type of agitation here.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Creepy feelings in Imphal
The newspapers did reappear this morning. In the Central Library, there were exactly 3 copies of newspaper, one each for three leading paper here. I think that was because there was heavy demand for the papers in the morning; so, the hawker responsible for delivering the papers for the library was forced to oversell his stock resulting in delivering of only 3 copies for the library!
That shows that Imphal is not quite normal.
Evening newspapers reported massive upheaval in Heirok. People there demolished three houses apparently belonging to sympathizers of a particular rebel who sought forgiveness for the killings of 3 young girls in a thabal there. The rebel claimed that the killings were the result of an unintended misfire.
And what’s the benefit of clamping curfew here in Imphal when all unwanted events kept occurring in the outskirts? Is this because of lack policemen to enforce the curfew in the outskirts?
I have this creepy feeling that some very select few in the government are in the know of the events occurring here. As a matter of fact, they might be active participants in the horrific events of the last few weeks. Imphal valley seems to be slowly turning into a hotbed of an unprecedented conspiracy hatched by military intelligence operatives, rebel renegades and some adventurous political hotheads—in fact, a massive twilight zone.
That shows that Imphal is not quite normal.
Evening newspapers reported massive upheaval in Heirok. People there demolished three houses apparently belonging to sympathizers of a particular rebel who sought forgiveness for the killings of 3 young girls in a thabal there. The rebel claimed that the killings were the result of an unintended misfire.
And what’s the benefit of clamping curfew here in Imphal when all unwanted events kept occurring in the outskirts? Is this because of lack policemen to enforce the curfew in the outskirts?
I have this creepy feeling that some very select few in the government are in the know of the events occurring here. As a matter of fact, they might be active participants in the horrific events of the last few weeks. Imphal valley seems to be slowly turning into a hotbed of an unprecedented conspiracy hatched by military intelligence operatives, rebel renegades and some adventurous political hotheads—in fact, a massive twilight zone.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Living with the wary and the mad
Yesterday, blogger was not reachable from here--even its home page was not accessible.
Early this morning I was deeply confused as to why not a single newspaper appeared on the newsstand. It was only when I went to Central Library in the afternoon then I realized that a particular rebel group was responsible. As a part of factional fight within the group, both the factions began dictating to the press not to publish press handouts of the one opposing to it. So, the editors chose not publish the papers at all.
At the library I read one interesting piece on China and Tibet. It said that non-Han people like Uighurs, Mongols and Tibetans were brought in to the Chinese empire only during the 16th Century. Incidentally, during that time the Chinese empire was ruled by the Qing dynasty, which, it said, was non-Han and was of Central Asian origin. It said they ascended the Imperial throne by conquest. Interesting—I thought that the only non-Han emperors of the Chinese empire were the Manchus.
And, I also always thought that the Tibetans had their representatives to the Chinese imperial court at least continuously for 2000 years.
The article closes with an implicit message that the Chinese were ruled not by Emperors but the wily Confucian bureaucracy. Again, implying that the Chinese Communist Party is a vast bureaucracy, it made its point in an undertone that nothing has changed for the Chinese people—they have been under the yoke of a wily bureaucracy, be it Confucian or Communist. Unless they break free of this wily bureaucracy, the world will have no chance to see the real of the Chinese people. Of course, unless that happens, the Tibetans would not have a chance to see their fate under its own management.
But reading the article, I have got this feeling that the writer is a little wary of the Chinese. We can understand that the Dalai Lama is a bit wary of the Chinese but why the writer of an article in a newspaper? It’s puzzling. But everybody seems to be a bit wary of the Chinese.
When I came out of the library I could buy two evening newspapers. That means that an agreement was reached between the editors and the rebel group and there would be newspapers tomorrow.
But there was distasteful news in the headlines. Some madmen shot death two young girls in Heirok, which is in the foothills of the mountain ranges that spread towards Burma embracing Chandel district along the way. Sure enough the girls were from Chandel. It was on 21st this month.
The retaliation came the very next day. There was a thabal on that day and at around 9.30 pm gunmen came there and started shooting indiscriminately at it. Two young girls were killed on the spot and one young girl and another man were seriously hurt. It is apparent that the gunmen must be the cadres of some hill-based rebel groups.
Right now, Chandel district is observing a bandh to protest the killings of the two girls.
It’s quite clear that it is cold blooded murder to turn the residents of Chandel district against those of the Valley. And, it’s the right time to remember the T Minou is in Chandel district. Interesting—really interesting.
I’m afraid some madmen are really on ‘engineering trips’. Please see this post to understand the idea behind the words ‘engineering trips'.
Early this morning I was deeply confused as to why not a single newspaper appeared on the newsstand. It was only when I went to Central Library in the afternoon then I realized that a particular rebel group was responsible. As a part of factional fight within the group, both the factions began dictating to the press not to publish press handouts of the one opposing to it. So, the editors chose not publish the papers at all.
At the library I read one interesting piece on China and Tibet. It said that non-Han people like Uighurs, Mongols and Tibetans were brought in to the Chinese empire only during the 16th Century. Incidentally, during that time the Chinese empire was ruled by the Qing dynasty, which, it said, was non-Han and was of Central Asian origin. It said they ascended the Imperial throne by conquest. Interesting—I thought that the only non-Han emperors of the Chinese empire were the Manchus.
And, I also always thought that the Tibetans had their representatives to the Chinese imperial court at least continuously for 2000 years.
The article closes with an implicit message that the Chinese were ruled not by Emperors but the wily Confucian bureaucracy. Again, implying that the Chinese Communist Party is a vast bureaucracy, it made its point in an undertone that nothing has changed for the Chinese people—they have been under the yoke of a wily bureaucracy, be it Confucian or Communist. Unless they break free of this wily bureaucracy, the world will have no chance to see the real of the Chinese people. Of course, unless that happens, the Tibetans would not have a chance to see their fate under its own management.
But reading the article, I have got this feeling that the writer is a little wary of the Chinese. We can understand that the Dalai Lama is a bit wary of the Chinese but why the writer of an article in a newspaper? It’s puzzling. But everybody seems to be a bit wary of the Chinese.
When I came out of the library I could buy two evening newspapers. That means that an agreement was reached between the editors and the rebel group and there would be newspapers tomorrow.
But there was distasteful news in the headlines. Some madmen shot death two young girls in Heirok, which is in the foothills of the mountain ranges that spread towards Burma embracing Chandel district along the way. Sure enough the girls were from Chandel. It was on 21st this month.
The retaliation came the very next day. There was a thabal on that day and at around 9.30 pm gunmen came there and started shooting indiscriminately at it. Two young girls were killed on the spot and one young girl and another man were seriously hurt. It is apparent that the gunmen must be the cadres of some hill-based rebel groups.
Right now, Chandel district is observing a bandh to protest the killings of the two girls.
It’s quite clear that it is cold blooded murder to turn the residents of Chandel district against those of the Valley. And, it’s the right time to remember the T Minou is in Chandel district. Interesting—really interesting.
I’m afraid some madmen are really on ‘engineering trips’. Please see this post to understand the idea behind the words ‘engineering trips'.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Curfew and rain
Today also I stayed indoors all day long. My home which is cable tv free and has a radio receiver which is not working! I went out late in the evening to buy some vegetables. I heard several groups of people talking in hush tones about the number of migrant workers already shot down within the last few days. But to my mind, the abhorrence for hurting or killing innocent and unarmed people is so ingrained in our society that the mad men who actually pulled the triggers of the handguns would ultimately revolt against the baddie boss if they are ordered to shoot on the innocents again and again. Let’s see how it comes out.
Curfew is also from 6 in the evening.
There was rain and it was actually chilly in the afternoon. Chilly weather in a March afternoon!
Curfew and rain effectively banish Yaoshang celebration from people’s mind. Instead, everybody seems to be staying indoors and feasting. Feasting on what? May be, on chicken. There were such long queues in front of chicken retailers near my houses. I suppose it’s the case in all over Imphal, at least.
One surprise is that we have been supplied with uninterrupted power for the three/four days. The power that be calculate that if the people are forced to indoors from just nightfall, they should at least be supplied with electricity! But where do they get the extra megawatts? Surprise here.
But life is still completely paralyzed. No transport system—nothing. There was no vegetable in the market—no, no, there was not even the market! There were only some daredevil women vendors attempting some sales.
Curfew is also from 6 in the evening.
There was rain and it was actually chilly in the afternoon. Chilly weather in a March afternoon!
Curfew and rain effectively banish Yaoshang celebration from people’s mind. Instead, everybody seems to be staying indoors and feasting. Feasting on what? May be, on chicken. There were such long queues in front of chicken retailers near my houses. I suppose it’s the case in all over Imphal, at least.
One surprise is that we have been supplied with uninterrupted power for the three/four days. The power that be calculate that if the people are forced to indoors from just nightfall, they should at least be supplied with electricity! But where do they get the extra megawatts? Surprise here.
But life is still completely paralyzed. No transport system—nothing. There was no vegetable in the market—no, no, there was not even the market! There were only some daredevil women vendors attempting some sales.
Monday, March 24, 2008
How about the answer?!
I stayed indoors all day long. When I went at around 5.30 in the evening to buy some chicken meat, everybody was hurrying and stores started pulling down their shutters. Curfew started from 6 in the evening. To make matters worse, it was also raining. When I returned home I did so in a power walk mode!
Imphal sure looked a ghost town in 6 in the evening.
So, I was completely shut out from the happening around me. But I dare that in this rain soaked evening even the dreaded killers would not have venture out to shoot down some poor migrant workers!
Even in this bleak atmosphere I still want to try to answer the question with which I ended my last post. Please re-read the post.
1) We need a political barrier. We should not be isolationist but we need some norms for letting in people from other parts of the world. That norm should be tailored to our needs and interests. We should be able to enforce that norm by coercion.
2) We should heavily lean on the emerging technology. If 21st Century belongs to the 4th World people, then it is also the century of robots. We should try to make the line of the emerging robots intersect with that of the tiny societies like us. Even in the US, which is a huge country, they are field testing apple-picking robots. Essentially, they are attempting to give serious competitions to the cheap migrant workers mainly from Mexico. And, the development cost of that particular robot, which the engineers think would be as good as humans in picking apples in the field, is around 5 million US dollars. That cost is certainly affordable. We need to compete out the cheap labor of the migrant workers.
3) We need to leverage our small size. That we are so small in number should mean that we are nimble—we should be quicker to arrive at collective decision and more ready to bear social cost imposed on us by the smallness of our population. For example, if the robots doing works in the field are not as versatile as the migrant workers, we should ready to live with it until new generation robots comes out in the market.
Imphal sure looked a ghost town in 6 in the evening.
So, I was completely shut out from the happening around me. But I dare that in this rain soaked evening even the dreaded killers would not have venture out to shoot down some poor migrant workers!
Even in this bleak atmosphere I still want to try to answer the question with which I ended my last post. Please re-read the post.
1) We need a political barrier. We should not be isolationist but we need some norms for letting in people from other parts of the world. That norm should be tailored to our needs and interests. We should be able to enforce that norm by coercion.
2) We should heavily lean on the emerging technology. If 21st Century belongs to the 4th World people, then it is also the century of robots. We should try to make the line of the emerging robots intersect with that of the tiny societies like us. Even in the US, which is a huge country, they are field testing apple-picking robots. Essentially, they are attempting to give serious competitions to the cheap migrant workers mainly from Mexico. And, the development cost of that particular robot, which the engineers think would be as good as humans in picking apples in the field, is around 5 million US dollars. That cost is certainly affordable. We need to compete out the cheap labor of the migrant workers.
3) We need to leverage our small size. That we are so small in number should mean that we are nimble—we should be quicker to arrive at collective decision and more ready to bear social cost imposed on us by the smallness of our population. For example, if the robots doing works in the field are not as versatile as the migrant workers, we should ready to live with it until new generation robots comes out in the market.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Fresh shootings
On the streets I heard hush conversations about fresh outbreak of shooting of migrant workers. Numbers of migrant workers shot vary wildly. I won’t mention any one of them—they are more in the nature of rumors. My radio is not working. I also don’t feel like phoning any media houses because they are now officially on holidays.
Then, suddenly there were police vans on the streets announcing that the curfew which was to start from 9 pm (like yesterday) would come into effect from 6 in the evening instead. So, the news of fresh shooting down of migrant workers is as good as being confirmed.
Popular narrative in Manipur invariably paints the migrant workers as one of the active actors of a grand conspiracy to swamp the population here. The narrative has been drilled into common men’s psyche.
To my mind, it is the right time for everybody who has a stake in the well being of our society to start to think empirically. It is exactly not the time to be swayed by emotions. We need to disengage ourselves form the tight embrace of the popular narratives so smoothly passed down from generation to generation. Otherwise, we would start to lose our collective direction and would start walking right into a trap.
Even if there is a grand conspiracy, the poor migrant workers are not active participants in it. At worst case scenario, they just might be a cog in the wheel—a tool of the power that be.
So, it’s no use striking at them. It’s waste of time and energy.
If 21st Century would be a century of the 4th World people, then it would be the history of tiny communities like Albanians, Croats in the Balkans, Timorese, Shans, Karens in Asia and even Scots, Irish in the middle of Europe finding ways to continue to do business with large, established societies and at the same time, not swept away from their cultural and ethnic moorings.
But how?
Then, suddenly there were police vans on the streets announcing that the curfew which was to start from 9 pm (like yesterday) would come into effect from 6 in the evening instead. So, the news of fresh shooting down of migrant workers is as good as being confirmed.
Popular narrative in Manipur invariably paints the migrant workers as one of the active actors of a grand conspiracy to swamp the population here. The narrative has been drilled into common men’s psyche.
To my mind, it is the right time for everybody who has a stake in the well being of our society to start to think empirically. It is exactly not the time to be swayed by emotions. We need to disengage ourselves form the tight embrace of the popular narratives so smoothly passed down from generation to generation. Otherwise, we would start to lose our collective direction and would start walking right into a trap.
Even if there is a grand conspiracy, the poor migrant workers are not active participants in it. At worst case scenario, they just might be a cog in the wheel—a tool of the power that be.
So, it’s no use striking at them. It’s waste of time and energy.
If 21st Century would be a century of the 4th World people, then it would be the history of tiny communities like Albanians, Croats in the Balkans, Timorese, Shans, Karens in Asia and even Scots, Irish in the middle of Europe finding ways to continue to do business with large, established societies and at the same time, not swept away from their cultural and ethnic moorings.
But how?
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Murder and poiltics
We are not going anywhere by killing innocent and unarmed people. There should be unconditional condemnation of such inhuman acts. This is one aspect of the episode.
Another aspect is that the Chief Minister, by letting his Director General of Police categorically naming one rebel group as the perpetrator of the ghastly killing, is out to settle political score. This is really unfortunate.
Nobody is saying this on records but there is widespread belief that the rebel group that the DGP had mentioned had a major role in organizing the recently failed camp by the MLAs in New Delhi to oust the incumbent Chief Minister.
Besides, the Superintendent of Police, Thoubal district, had also named another rebel group as the perpetrator of the killings.
So, it seems everybody is out to make capital out the ghastly killings.
But the most important, the logical sequence of the happenings in the last few weeks does not point to a rebel group as a likely perpetrator. This seems more complicated than the State officials are trying to make to be.
I’ll come again more on the subject tomorrow. Right now, I’m feeling exhausted.
Another aspect is that the Chief Minister, by letting his Director General of Police categorically naming one rebel group as the perpetrator of the ghastly killing, is out to settle political score. This is really unfortunate.
Nobody is saying this on records but there is widespread belief that the rebel group that the DGP had mentioned had a major role in organizing the recently failed camp by the MLAs in New Delhi to oust the incumbent Chief Minister.
Besides, the Superintendent of Police, Thoubal district, had also named another rebel group as the perpetrator of the killings.
So, it seems everybody is out to make capital out the ghastly killings.
But the most important, the logical sequence of the happenings in the last few weeks does not point to a rebel group as a likely perpetrator. This seems more complicated than the State officials are trying to make to be.
I’ll come again more on the subject tomorrow. Right now, I’m feeling exhausted.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Normalcy?
It looks like the madness of killing innocent laborers has subsided. Today’s evening newspapers had not carried a single case of fresh killing.
But the curfew is still in place. I also can’t understand why the curfew is imposed in Imphal areas only. All the killings took place outside Imphal. To my mind, it should be extended all throughout the valley.
If (this is a big IF) the killings are cases of some mad people going for ‘engineering trips’, their efforts have already been paid off so handsomely. For understanding ‘engineering trips’, please go to my last posts.
See how both houses of Parliament in New Delhi saw heated discussions on the killings here. Some MPs even called for the resignation of the Federal Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil.
Here, at the State Assembly, there were widespread condemnations by the MLAs. And, the Assembly session have been adjourned for three times now. Originally, it was to close its session on the 16th; then it was adjourned till 19th. Now, today’s papers carried the news that it was yet again adjourned to the 3rd of April. So, what’s happening?
To my mind, it all seems to be so orchestrated.
Buried deep into inner pages of one particular newspaper, there was this nugget of news here. All other papers failed to carry the news. Manipur’s leading female actor, Kamla had just signed up for her 100th film! This is an amazing story. Filmdom seems to be the most happening zone here in Manipur.
But the curfew is still in place. I also can’t understand why the curfew is imposed in Imphal areas only. All the killings took place outside Imphal. To my mind, it should be extended all throughout the valley.
If (this is a big IF) the killings are cases of some mad people going for ‘engineering trips’, their efforts have already been paid off so handsomely. For understanding ‘engineering trips’, please go to my last posts.
See how both houses of Parliament in New Delhi saw heated discussions on the killings here. Some MPs even called for the resignation of the Federal Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil.
Here, at the State Assembly, there were widespread condemnations by the MLAs. And, the Assembly session have been adjourned for three times now. Originally, it was to close its session on the 16th; then it was adjourned till 19th. Now, today’s papers carried the news that it was yet again adjourned to the 3rd of April. So, what’s happening?
To my mind, it all seems to be so orchestrated.
Buried deep into inner pages of one particular newspaper, there was this nugget of news here. All other papers failed to carry the news. Manipur’s leading female actor, Kamla had just signed up for her 100th film! This is an amazing story. Filmdom seems to be the most happening zone here in Manipur.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The day after
Today’s evening newspapers reported another non-Manipuri shopkeeper shot death in Kumbi, which is the small township just past Moirang on the way to Wangoo.
Just at the moment, I heard a lot of police movements on the streets. Some of the sirens of the speeding police parties sounded as if they were transporting some wounded towards RIMS. I have no way of confirming it. Some 30 minutes or so back, I also heard a sound of explosion.
Night curfew is still in place. By 5 in the evening there were traffic snarls caused by scurrying masses of people anxious to reach their homes safely.
Anxieties seem to be writ large on people’s faces.
When I visited Central Library at around 2.30 pm, I found it deserted. All the staffs had already returned home!
Rumors fly around thick and thin.
Main market places were shut down as a mark of protest as the inhuman killings.
The evening newspapers also reported some truckloads of laborers fleeing the State. Around 100 or so of them were prevented from fleeing by the Police for their own safety—they were advised to go, if they have to, after semblance of normalcy returns.
And the Chief Minister announced ex gratia payments for those killed and wounded.
Just at the moment, I heard a lot of police movements on the streets. Some of the sirens of the speeding police parties sounded as if they were transporting some wounded towards RIMS. I have no way of confirming it. Some 30 minutes or so back, I also heard a sound of explosion.
Night curfew is still in place. By 5 in the evening there were traffic snarls caused by scurrying masses of people anxious to reach their homes safely.
Anxieties seem to be writ large on people’s faces.
When I visited Central Library at around 2.30 pm, I found it deserted. All the staffs had already returned home!
Rumors fly around thick and thin.
Main market places were shut down as a mark of protest as the inhuman killings.
The evening newspapers also reported some truckloads of laborers fleeing the State. Around 100 or so of them were prevented from fleeing by the Police for their own safety—they were advised to go, if they have to, after semblance of normalcy returns.
And the Chief Minister announced ex gratia payments for those killed and wounded.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Imphal under night curfew
Imphal is under night curfew—from 6 tonight until 5 in the morning tomorrow. It was imposed this evening.
Today is strange. We woke up with the news headline that 8 unarmed laboureres outside the State were shot dead somewhere near Uchiwa along Imphal-Wabgai road. In the evening, the headlines were again of the killing of 5 more laborers, this time near Lamlai which is along the Imphal-Ukhrul road.
In today’s episode they tried to shoot down around 30 laborers in three attempts in three different places all near Lamlai. 5 got killed, 4 were rescued by the nearby villagers and the rest managed to escape. Today is a horrific day.
I also get this feeling that some murky minds were on a short ‘engineering trip’. Please read my last to understand this ‘engineering trip’.
The same papers also carried the report of the Chief Minister meeting the press this morning. He said that the identity of the kingpin was established and operations were on full swings to capture him and his accomplices.
He also said they were the handiwork of a rebel group. He did not name it.
Lastly, he said that process had already been initiated to safeguard the lives of those students studying outside the State. But I got this strange feeling he had wished to see some students already killed in response to the killings here in his State. He seemed to make the statement not protect students but to initiate retaliatory responses from somewhere whereby some students got killed. Strange—it’s really strange.
I also get this uneasy feeling that all these killings of innocent people happened as a direct result of what had happened during the last few days in a place called T Minou. Please read my last 2 posts to get the story.
Today is strange. We woke up with the news headline that 8 unarmed laboureres outside the State were shot dead somewhere near Uchiwa along Imphal-Wabgai road. In the evening, the headlines were again of the killing of 5 more laborers, this time near Lamlai which is along the Imphal-Ukhrul road.
In today’s episode they tried to shoot down around 30 laborers in three attempts in three different places all near Lamlai. 5 got killed, 4 were rescued by the nearby villagers and the rest managed to escape. Today is a horrific day.
I also get this feeling that some murky minds were on a short ‘engineering trip’. Please read my last to understand this ‘engineering trip’.
The same papers also carried the report of the Chief Minister meeting the press this morning. He said that the identity of the kingpin was established and operations were on full swings to capture him and his accomplices.
He also said they were the handiwork of a rebel group. He did not name it.
Lastly, he said that process had already been initiated to safeguard the lives of those students studying outside the State. But I got this strange feeling he had wished to see some students already killed in response to the killings here in his State. He seemed to make the statement not protect students but to initiate retaliatory responses from somewhere whereby some students got killed. Strange—it’s really strange.
I also get this uneasy feeling that all these killings of innocent people happened as a direct result of what had happened during the last few days in a place called T Minou. Please read my last 2 posts to get the story.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
T Minou 2
Why should anybody have the time to go deeper into the competitions amongst rebel groups?
Please read on. I’ve something in mind.
Any rebel group worth its salt with an avowed aim of fighting the Indian military should have a doctrine for doing so, which in turn should be the fruition of the interaction between political and military thinkers of the group. Within the framework such doctrine, commanders in the field need to devise strategies and tactics for military onslaughts.
After they passed the tests of fighting the police forces like CRPF, BSF etc, they all find something amiss when they come face to face with the Indian military. The only exception might be the group which carried out the attack on T Minou military outpost. Neither do they the doctrine nor have they the human resources to bring forth it.
Naturally, rebel cadres cutting across party lines are demoralized. They start to fervently wish that the society which gives sustenance to their movement suddenly withdraw the political space that enables such sustenance. It’s because they know from the Nagas and Mizos that going for peace talk would render them turncoats at best and traitors at worst.
At the second phase of the demoralization of the rebel cadres, they now want to engineer the social conditions which will result in the withdrawal of the political space by our society.
Sensing the new development, the Indian military intelligence sprang into action.
Now, these two elements quietly withdraw into a twilight zone where they collude for their future plan of actions. With the increasing frequencies of the military actions that took place at T Minou, this twilight zone and the number inhabitants are likely to grow bigger and bigger.
A chill races down my spine as I try to capture the scale of damages these murky minds are likely to impinge on the social fabric of our society.
This is my feeble attempts to try to connect the dots and I fervently wish that I was totally wrong in my assessment and no such twilight zone ever existed here.
And, today, I should not fail to record this: YAOSHANG SPORTS STARTS! I saw several torch rallies in the street heralding the beginning of the sport events.
But isn’t it bit too early? Apparently there are lots of takers for opting to sports as their careers. That’s a good development.
Please read on. I’ve something in mind.
Any rebel group worth its salt with an avowed aim of fighting the Indian military should have a doctrine for doing so, which in turn should be the fruition of the interaction between political and military thinkers of the group. Within the framework such doctrine, commanders in the field need to devise strategies and tactics for military onslaughts.
After they passed the tests of fighting the police forces like CRPF, BSF etc, they all find something amiss when they come face to face with the Indian military. The only exception might be the group which carried out the attack on T Minou military outpost. Neither do they the doctrine nor have they the human resources to bring forth it.
Naturally, rebel cadres cutting across party lines are demoralized. They start to fervently wish that the society which gives sustenance to their movement suddenly withdraw the political space that enables such sustenance. It’s because they know from the Nagas and Mizos that going for peace talk would render them turncoats at best and traitors at worst.
At the second phase of the demoralization of the rebel cadres, they now want to engineer the social conditions which will result in the withdrawal of the political space by our society.
Sensing the new development, the Indian military intelligence sprang into action.
Now, these two elements quietly withdraw into a twilight zone where they collude for their future plan of actions. With the increasing frequencies of the military actions that took place at T Minou, this twilight zone and the number inhabitants are likely to grow bigger and bigger.
A chill races down my spine as I try to capture the scale of damages these murky minds are likely to impinge on the social fabric of our society.
This is my feeble attempts to try to connect the dots and I fervently wish that I was totally wrong in my assessment and no such twilight zone ever existed here.
And, today, I should not fail to record this: YAOSHANG SPORTS STARTS! I saw several torch rallies in the street heralding the beginning of the sport events.
But isn’t it bit too early? Apparently there are lots of takers for opting to sports as their careers. That’s a good development.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
T Minou
T Minou presents us with a lot of dots that need to be connected.
T Minou and the unsaid words.
If we go back some weeks, we would remember that T Minou is exactly the place 5 of the cadres of a rebel group were shot down by the Indian military. That rebel group directly competes with the one which had completed the onslaught on the military post.
If we go back exactly a day further after the shooting down of the 5 cadre, we would also find out the other rebel group claimed to have shoot down 5 soldiers of the Indian military somewhere along Indo Burma in Ukhrul district. That was the day before the rising day of the rebel group which had lost 5 cadres in T Minou. That means the group lost their 5 cadres on the day which also happened to be the rising day of their party. Some days after their rising day celebration the group came out with a press handout that claimed their cadres were unarmed and were on their way to a mission in civilian clothes. I doubt the veracity of the claim and I suspect that they lost their cadres while trying to attack the military outpost there in T Minou.
Two things come out here. One, the first attack along the border in Ukhrul district just 1 day before the rising day of the particular group was meant to send out the message they should show their firepower on their rising day by attacking some Indian military personnel. I think they tried but they ended up losing their cadres instead. One group forcing another to prove their firepower.
Two, if they lost 5 of their cadres in T Minou, we would demolish the military outpost there—that’s the message of yesterday’s attack. Showing off the efficacy of their firepower vis a vis the lost of 5 cadres of the other group.
I would come up with the continuation of this post tomorrow. I’ve an appointment early morning tomorrow.
T Minou and the unsaid words.
If we go back some weeks, we would remember that T Minou is exactly the place 5 of the cadres of a rebel group were shot down by the Indian military. That rebel group directly competes with the one which had completed the onslaught on the military post.
If we go back exactly a day further after the shooting down of the 5 cadre, we would also find out the other rebel group claimed to have shoot down 5 soldiers of the Indian military somewhere along Indo Burma in Ukhrul district. That was the day before the rising day of the rebel group which had lost 5 cadres in T Minou. That means the group lost their 5 cadres on the day which also happened to be the rising day of their party. Some days after their rising day celebration the group came out with a press handout that claimed their cadres were unarmed and were on their way to a mission in civilian clothes. I doubt the veracity of the claim and I suspect that they lost their cadres while trying to attack the military outpost there in T Minou.
Two things come out here. One, the first attack along the border in Ukhrul district just 1 day before the rising day of the particular group was meant to send out the message they should show their firepower on their rising day by attacking some Indian military personnel. I think they tried but they ended up losing their cadres instead. One group forcing another to prove their firepower.
Two, if they lost 5 of their cadres in T Minou, we would demolish the military outpost there—that’s the message of yesterday’s attack. Showing off the efficacy of their firepower vis a vis the lost of 5 cadres of the other group.
I would come up with the continuation of this post tomorrow. I’ve an appointment early morning tomorrow.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Nameless!
A fortnight ago, you could walk along the Paona Bazar Road, at least, along the side walks as the workmen were only digging up at the middle for laying pipes for the Imphal Sewage Project. That pipe laying works are almost complete with only a 100 ft or so of road remains to be dug up towards the new overbridge.
But now, you cannot walk along that stretch of the road!
For one thing, they are digging up 4-5 ft wide and 3-4 ft deep at both the sidewalks. They are meant to be laid with RCC work for carrying power lines, telephone cables and drains as well. I’ve seen some RCC works in progress and they contain three furrows, one each for power lines, phone cables and drainage.
They are also digging up across the road at several points for reconstructing the culverts carrying drainages.
So, what the storeowners do in response? They all scramble to put up makeshift ramps of wood and bamboo across the 5 ft wide moat. Some are so disheartened that they manage to put a single rickety wooden plank to welcome their customers.
For the last 15 days or so, they had hardly any business. So, the storeowners and their salesmen stood at their doorsteps(ie, at the bank of the moat!) to stare blankly at the workmen, wallowing in the dirty and smelly sewage water trying to put up the rcc works.
To complete the picture let’s add one more element. A man trying to sell evening newspapers, shouting at the top of his voice—A FIERCE REBEL ATTACK AT ARMY CAMP NEAR MOREH—A VERY HEAVY CASUALITIES.
I bought one 1-rupee and 1-sheet paper and it was actually there in the headlines. Military outpost is at a place called T Minou and the paper said the attack by the rebels was ‘fierce’. The details were sketchy but it said there was ‘heavy casualties’.
With the paper in hand, I moved on—I meant, along the Kakhulong road. I was looking for green leafy vegetable.
I chanced upon a green leafy stuff which I had not seen before. I asked the lady vendor what the stuff called. She could not recall the name of the stuff she was selling. She tried asking several of her fellow vendors. But it turned out nobody could recollect the name of the green and leafy stuff I was about to buy!
Anyway, I bought the green, leafy stuff which was nameless lest you tend to forget!
Well, I’ve just found out that the stuff taste like medicine!
But now, you cannot walk along that stretch of the road!
For one thing, they are digging up 4-5 ft wide and 3-4 ft deep at both the sidewalks. They are meant to be laid with RCC work for carrying power lines, telephone cables and drains as well. I’ve seen some RCC works in progress and they contain three furrows, one each for power lines, phone cables and drainage.
They are also digging up across the road at several points for reconstructing the culverts carrying drainages.
So, what the storeowners do in response? They all scramble to put up makeshift ramps of wood and bamboo across the 5 ft wide moat. Some are so disheartened that they manage to put a single rickety wooden plank to welcome their customers.
For the last 15 days or so, they had hardly any business. So, the storeowners and their salesmen stood at their doorsteps(ie, at the bank of the moat!) to stare blankly at the workmen, wallowing in the dirty and smelly sewage water trying to put up the rcc works.
To complete the picture let’s add one more element. A man trying to sell evening newspapers, shouting at the top of his voice—A FIERCE REBEL ATTACK AT ARMY CAMP NEAR MOREH—A VERY HEAVY CASUALITIES.
I bought one 1-rupee and 1-sheet paper and it was actually there in the headlines. Military outpost is at a place called T Minou and the paper said the attack by the rebels was ‘fierce’. The details were sketchy but it said there was ‘heavy casualties’.
With the paper in hand, I moved on—I meant, along the Kakhulong road. I was looking for green leafy vegetable.
I chanced upon a green leafy stuff which I had not seen before. I asked the lady vendor what the stuff called. She could not recall the name of the stuff she was selling. She tried asking several of her fellow vendors. But it turned out nobody could recollect the name of the green and leafy stuff I was about to buy!
Anyway, I bought the green, leafy stuff which was nameless lest you tend to forget!
Well, I’ve just found out that the stuff taste like medicine!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Crafty?
I went to a craft fair in the afternoon.
It is quite plausible to think that they are trying to make festive sales for the coming Yaoshang. At the moment, I can count at least 4 fairs in Imphal itself. For the last 30 days or so, there were uninterrupted fairs in some venues—one party packed up their wares, then another one unpacked their fares!
But the shocking insider news is that they are neither attempting festive sales nor trying to find new customers. Instead, they are trying to pocket some portions of the money sanctioned to organize the fairs!
Of course, the money is sanctioned in New Delhi by Ministry of Textiles.
But I notice that the profiles of the craft persons undergo vast change. Now, they are mostly girls in denims and tops.
Looking them at their works, I can’t help thinking—why don’t they attempt to migrate to the Web?
It would be interesting to see the customers’ response if we promote ‘Moirang phee’, Wangkhei phee’ and ‘Kouna’ as brands on the Web. ‘Moirang phee’, ‘Wangkhei phee’ or ‘Kouna’ not just as handicraft but as communities of artisans and craft persons. The thrust of the brand making should be to bring such communities in direct contact with the users or customers. It would not be new thing to attempt that. We have ready example like the attempt to promote ‘Jodhpur’ as a community on the Web.
But the phenomenal rise in the numbers of fairs this year may also indicate that some younger craft persons have made the first steps in looking for newer markets, newer horizon. If that’s the case, we may see the migration to the Web in no time.
It is quite plausible to think that they are trying to make festive sales for the coming Yaoshang. At the moment, I can count at least 4 fairs in Imphal itself. For the last 30 days or so, there were uninterrupted fairs in some venues—one party packed up their wares, then another one unpacked their fares!
But the shocking insider news is that they are neither attempting festive sales nor trying to find new customers. Instead, they are trying to pocket some portions of the money sanctioned to organize the fairs!
Of course, the money is sanctioned in New Delhi by Ministry of Textiles.
But I notice that the profiles of the craft persons undergo vast change. Now, they are mostly girls in denims and tops.
Looking them at their works, I can’t help thinking—why don’t they attempt to migrate to the Web?
It would be interesting to see the customers’ response if we promote ‘Moirang phee’, Wangkhei phee’ and ‘Kouna’ as brands on the Web. ‘Moirang phee’, ‘Wangkhei phee’ or ‘Kouna’ not just as handicraft but as communities of artisans and craft persons. The thrust of the brand making should be to bring such communities in direct contact with the users or customers. It would not be new thing to attempt that. We have ready example like the attempt to promote ‘Jodhpur’ as a community on the Web.
But the phenomenal rise in the numbers of fairs this year may also indicate that some younger craft persons have made the first steps in looking for newer markets, newer horizon. If that’s the case, we may see the migration to the Web in no time.
Here I am
I’ve returned to my blog.
I did this on an impulse. But today is 13th. Will 13 be always unlucky? Will my return to my blog be a bad restart?
I’ve so many things to say. But the first, the prelude!
I planned to rest for ¾ days because of an onset of a flu virus infection. But I ended up resting for almost 6 months! Life is always so full of surprises!!
But I’m enjoying my offline world. It is world without rss feeds and I thought that I would not be able to populate that kind life. But slowly I got used to it. Surprise, surprise!
Actually, I kept postponing returning to my blog as I planned for an interrupted internet and power. As regards power it is easy if you are ready to bear the cost. But the intenet? It is really difficult in a place like Imphal. As I’m typing this BSNL’s broadband is down and I’m using dialup service to post this.
I’ll try to come to my blog on a daily basis.
I’ve so many things to say!!
I did this on an impulse. But today is 13th. Will 13 be always unlucky? Will my return to my blog be a bad restart?
I’ve so many things to say. But the first, the prelude!
I planned to rest for ¾ days because of an onset of a flu virus infection. But I ended up resting for almost 6 months! Life is always so full of surprises!!
But I’m enjoying my offline world. It is world without rss feeds and I thought that I would not be able to populate that kind life. But slowly I got used to it. Surprise, surprise!
Actually, I kept postponing returning to my blog as I planned for an interrupted internet and power. As regards power it is easy if you are ready to bear the cost. But the intenet? It is really difficult in a place like Imphal. As I’m typing this BSNL’s broadband is down and I’m using dialup service to post this.
I’ll try to come to my blog on a daily basis.
I’ve so many things to say!!
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