The swing in the public moods might have started the moment when Muivah had landed in New Delhi for an unscheduled visit. I had already mentioned in brief about the emergence of a surprising swing in the public moods in my last post.
I had several opportunities during the past several weeks to talk about the matter with several people, all of whom may be categorized as ordinary folks. Surprisingly, all of them have a very lucid picture of the emerging political storm which have been slowly but steadily engineered along the Southern borders of our State.
They are all knowledgeable about the ongoing plan during this election to re-position the demand for the inclusion of the four district of Mnaipur in the envisioned Greater Nagaland NOT simply as a demand of another of the several rebel groups of the Region, BUT as the legitimate demand for the people inhibiting these four districts.
The first step towards that goal is to make the people elect MLAs who would be willing to be a member of the Manipur State Assembly but still ready put up resolutions for the dismemberment of the same State. Along with the tabling of such resolutions in the State Assembly there would be parallel agitations in the four districts for the inclusion of themselves in the proposed Greater Nagaland.
The particular rebel group has already pitch forked 10 such candidates for the coming elections who had already signed on the dotted lines in agreement of several documents, one of them is the proforma of the proposed resolution in the State Assembly. Going by the past records of installing the Neiphiu Rio government in Nagaland and the election of Mr Mani Charanamei as one of the MPs from the hills parliamentary constituency, those 10 candidates are sure to return to the State Assembly as the elected MLAs.
These are the harbingers of the swing in the public moods in Manipur today.
To my mind, the people of Manipur change.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Lost 10 days
There was a sudden hailstorm in Imphal on the 1st day of this month and my phone was knocked out of service by it. I dutifully reported it to the phone company on the following day. But there were so many bandhs and holidays in between that I managed to remind the phone company of my complaint only on the 7th and their ‘linesmen’ visited me on the 9th. On the afternoon on the 9th, they checked my phone lines only upto the DP on the telephone pole on the opposite side of the street of my place. They found the lines ok on their DP and they simply went away without even meeting me! Most probably they reasoned the fault occurred on the lines within my own premises, which in turn, was supposed to be my responsibility.
I don’t know what DP stands for but it is the point on the public telephone poles from where the lines enter individual household. In another words, it is the point form where the ‘last mile’ part starts.
So, this afternoon, I climbed on the rooftops and made repairs to my phone lines! What a change it was!! But I got it done. Now my phone is working.
It is sad but I have already lost 10 days because of the inefficiencies of a phone company and the underdevelopment of a society.
In the meantime, so many things have happened.
For one thing, Manipur People’s Party is in the striking distance of forming the next government in Manipur. It is a very surprising political development here.
And here I should also take this opportunity to correct myself. In several of my earlier posts I said that it was the works of the rebels to resurrect the Manipur People’s Party and positioned it in the present state from where they are in the striking distance of grabbing power in the State. I was wrong in my assessment.
Now I think that there have been these ongoing swings in the public moods. And the rebels are either smarter than most of us or they have their ears closer to the ground that they quickly got winds of the ongoing swings of the public moods and try to capitalize on that. Resurrecting MPP by merging two other regional parties, Federal Party and DRPP was the first step in that direction. I think it was a smart move.
Now in every sense of the term, this election is already proving to be a watershed in the political history of Manipur. The rebels are deploying considerable resources to influence the voters so that MPP returned with a majority of the seats in the next Assembly. They are doing it indirectly but are using all the tricks in their bags. Their main strategy seems to be to slow down as many active Congress Party workers as possible. And right now there are mostly straight fight between the candidates of the MPP and the Congress candidates in most of the constituencies. So slowing down active Congress Party workers would mean empowering the MPP candidates. But the rebels are proving to be far too smart than they are usually credited for. They are deploying all these tricks so unobtrusively!
I’ll come more on these in the following days. But here I should not fail to mention that the hailstorm of the 1st have a remarkable effect on the electioneering, at least! The hailstorm brought drizzles to Imphal and it only subsided two days back. It was cold and wet and terribly depressing. So depressing that we could not find even a remote hint that there would be an election after 10 days—so completely quite!!
Even tonight, as I’m typing this, it is so quite in Imphal. It appears that most of the voters have already decided who would be the winners! We should try to be humble in front of the collective wisdom of the folks—the power of the crowd!!
I don’t know what DP stands for but it is the point on the public telephone poles from where the lines enter individual household. In another words, it is the point form where the ‘last mile’ part starts.
So, this afternoon, I climbed on the rooftops and made repairs to my phone lines! What a change it was!! But I got it done. Now my phone is working.
It is sad but I have already lost 10 days because of the inefficiencies of a phone company and the underdevelopment of a society.
In the meantime, so many things have happened.
For one thing, Manipur People’s Party is in the striking distance of forming the next government in Manipur. It is a very surprising political development here.
And here I should also take this opportunity to correct myself. In several of my earlier posts I said that it was the works of the rebels to resurrect the Manipur People’s Party and positioned it in the present state from where they are in the striking distance of grabbing power in the State. I was wrong in my assessment.
Now I think that there have been these ongoing swings in the public moods. And the rebels are either smarter than most of us or they have their ears closer to the ground that they quickly got winds of the ongoing swings of the public moods and try to capitalize on that. Resurrecting MPP by merging two other regional parties, Federal Party and DRPP was the first step in that direction. I think it was a smart move.
Now in every sense of the term, this election is already proving to be a watershed in the political history of Manipur. The rebels are deploying considerable resources to influence the voters so that MPP returned with a majority of the seats in the next Assembly. They are doing it indirectly but are using all the tricks in their bags. Their main strategy seems to be to slow down as many active Congress Party workers as possible. And right now there are mostly straight fight between the candidates of the MPP and the Congress candidates in most of the constituencies. So slowing down active Congress Party workers would mean empowering the MPP candidates. But the rebels are proving to be far too smart than they are usually credited for. They are deploying all these tricks so unobtrusively!
I’ll come more on these in the following days. But here I should not fail to mention that the hailstorm of the 1st have a remarkable effect on the electioneering, at least! The hailstorm brought drizzles to Imphal and it only subsided two days back. It was cold and wet and terribly depressing. So depressing that we could not find even a remote hint that there would be an election after 10 days—so completely quite!!
Even tonight, as I’m typing this, it is so quite in Imphal. It appears that most of the voters have already decided who would be the winners! We should try to be humble in front of the collective wisdom of the folks—the power of the crowd!!
A would be post!
I typed out the following on the night of the 1st only to be found out that my phone was thrown oout of service by the hailstorm. Nothing remarkable about the write up but I still want to post it.
******
How the thunderstorm struck Imphal! It came out of nowhere. I for one was completely taken by surprise.
It was dusk. I was just settling down with my cup of green tea when it struck us so suddenly. No warning so whatsoever.
While we were so mercilessly lashed by the storm, electricity also suddenly left us. I muttered-‘just in time’. But when I looked out, I found out that we were only 3 or 4 houses that were blacked out. All other houses were there all brightly lit up. Even in the middle of a hailstorm!
Well done, Government of Manipur for keeping their electric supply uninterrupted even during a hailstorm!
There was electricity in the majority of the houses even in the middle of a hailstorm. That was a some kind of record! I was loving that record even though I was there trying to cook my dinner in the middle of a hailstorm, multitasking in trying to save the flame of the kerosene lamp from being blown out by the strong winds!!
I was preparing to eat my dinner at around 10. Then, suddenly that elusive electricity returned to my place. 10 at night and there was still someone checking the grid! This again was another record. My thumb rule is that if we get blacked out at an hour later than 9 in the night there is no possibility of getting back the electricity because all the emergency staff personnel are busy having their dinner and are readying to go to bed.
I got electricity at 10 at night. But I was so thoroughly mentally prepared not let go of the rare chance of going to bed early that I anyhow went to bed immediately after my dinner.
Sometimes, I also want to go to sleep early. So, I just did that. What the heck!
******
******
How the thunderstorm struck Imphal! It came out of nowhere. I for one was completely taken by surprise.
It was dusk. I was just settling down with my cup of green tea when it struck us so suddenly. No warning so whatsoever.
While we were so mercilessly lashed by the storm, electricity also suddenly left us. I muttered-‘just in time’. But when I looked out, I found out that we were only 3 or 4 houses that were blacked out. All other houses were there all brightly lit up. Even in the middle of a hailstorm!
Well done, Government of Manipur for keeping their electric supply uninterrupted even during a hailstorm!
There was electricity in the majority of the houses even in the middle of a hailstorm. That was a some kind of record! I was loving that record even though I was there trying to cook my dinner in the middle of a hailstorm, multitasking in trying to save the flame of the kerosene lamp from being blown out by the strong winds!!
I was preparing to eat my dinner at around 10. Then, suddenly that elusive electricity returned to my place. 10 at night and there was still someone checking the grid! This again was another record. My thumb rule is that if we get blacked out at an hour later than 9 in the night there is no possibility of getting back the electricity because all the emergency staff personnel are busy having their dinner and are readying to go to bed.
I got electricity at 10 at night. But I was so thoroughly mentally prepared not let go of the rare chance of going to bed early that I anyhow went to bed immediately after my dinner.
Sometimes, I also want to go to sleep early. So, I just did that. What the heck!
******
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Do we find a pattern here?
There are media reports of the clashes between the regular army of the Indian nation and rebels of Manipur along the Burma borders.
Amidst all these media reports, the plane again returned tonight at around 8 pm.
So, do we find a pattern here?
Tonight the plane made sorties along very large circles across the Southern mountain ranges. It took around 15-20 minutes for the plane to complete a single sortie along its circular path.
Here, one thing comes to my mind. It is said that for the narcotics trade along the Burma border, Imphal-Moreh route become unattractive for several years now. A new route linking New Somtal and Churachandpur district is already in operation. They carry drugs from Burma via New Somtal upto the interiors of Churachandpur by foot!
And, the clash between the regular army of the Indian nation and the rebels of Manipur occurs in and around New Somtal.
So, it makes sense for the plane to fly over the landmass of Churachadpur district. It might even touch the New Somtal area.
In the above light, it now becomes a very pertinent question:
Do we find a pattern here?
Amidst all these media reports, the plane again returned tonight at around 8 pm.
So, do we find a pattern here?
Tonight the plane made sorties along very large circles across the Southern mountain ranges. It took around 15-20 minutes for the plane to complete a single sortie along its circular path.
Here, one thing comes to my mind. It is said that for the narcotics trade along the Burma border, Imphal-Moreh route become unattractive for several years now. A new route linking New Somtal and Churachandpur district is already in operation. They carry drugs from Burma via New Somtal upto the interiors of Churachandpur by foot!
And, the clash between the regular army of the Indian nation and the rebels of Manipur occurs in and around New Somtal.
So, it makes sense for the plane to fly over the landmass of Churachadpur district. It might even touch the New Somtal area.
In the above light, it now becomes a very pertinent question:
Do we find a pattern here?
Only the mine got snapped!
A truck jammed into the bundle of electric wires that go to the individual household from the poles in the street. The street where the poles stand were elevated more than 5 feet several years back but the poles remained as they were. So, all the electric wires are strung so low that any truck or bus can cause damage to them all.
It happened yesterday at dusk. At that hour I was tired and had neither the inclination nor the energy to organize a repair job.
Today, I bought new wires and engaged electricians and repaired the mess—all at my cost.
I know accidents do happen but why single out only the wires that go to my house—why?
Out of the bundle of 20-30 pairs of wires, only the mine got snapped!
It happened yesterday at dusk. At that hour I was tired and had neither the inclination nor the energy to organize a repair job.
Today, I bought new wires and engaged electricians and repaired the mess—all at my cost.
I know accidents do happen but why single out only the wires that go to my house—why?
Out of the bundle of 20-30 pairs of wires, only the mine got snapped!
Monday, January 29, 2007
The power of the crowd!
I started taking the anti-allergic pills this morning. And I'm already feeling better! (See my last post).
This is the case of the close encounter of daily kind. Encountering what? Yes, power of the crowd. This may just be the glimpse of the underlying idea behind the feasibilty of crowd sourcing.
In my case, the friend of mine who recommended me the pill is just a businessman--he is in no way connected with medicine. And, I was not scouting for advice either. We were just in a small gathering, talking and enjoying ourselves. But from that crowd came out a really actionable advice! Long live the crowd sourcing!!
Today another of friend (also in a small crowd) of mine told me that I had been too enthusiastic about the prospect of MPP in this election. He told me that the Party had no chance to come out with more than a dozen MLAs. In contrast, he said, the Indian National Congress had the likelyhood of getting at least 20 MLAs. He based his calculation on the individual 'electability' of the candidates.
I told him that he was being too impressed with the sitting MLAs. I also told him that it was natural to feel the sitting MLAs as quite formidable.
But, if there is a subtle change in the general public mood, anything can happen. All the sitting MLAs who look so formidable right now will fall like dominoes.
I know he has quite dependable basis for thinking that the Congress will be returned to power. I'm not supporting any particular party. But my point is that anything can happen in this election.
That said, I'm also aware of the power of the crowd!
This is the case of the close encounter of daily kind. Encountering what? Yes, power of the crowd. This may just be the glimpse of the underlying idea behind the feasibilty of crowd sourcing.
In my case, the friend of mine who recommended me the pill is just a businessman--he is in no way connected with medicine. And, I was not scouting for advice either. We were just in a small gathering, talking and enjoying ourselves. But from that crowd came out a really actionable advice! Long live the crowd sourcing!!
Today another of friend (also in a small crowd) of mine told me that I had been too enthusiastic about the prospect of MPP in this election. He told me that the Party had no chance to come out with more than a dozen MLAs. In contrast, he said, the Indian National Congress had the likelyhood of getting at least 20 MLAs. He based his calculation on the individual 'electability' of the candidates.
I told him that he was being too impressed with the sitting MLAs. I also told him that it was natural to feel the sitting MLAs as quite formidable.
But, if there is a subtle change in the general public mood, anything can happen. All the sitting MLAs who look so formidable right now will fall like dominoes.
I know he has quite dependable basis for thinking that the Congress will be returned to power. I'm not supporting any particular party. But my point is that anything can happen in this election.
That said, I'm also aware of the power of the crowd!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Cold allergy
One of my friends told me this evening that the flu virus should have completed its lifecycle in my body. But during all those fight with the virus my body might have also developed an allergic reaction to the ambient cold weather. He suggested that I should take an anti-allergic pill for some days and he had a name of the pill in his mind.
I’ll try taking the pills from tomorrow for three days.
But I’ve been gurgling with lukewarm water with a pinch of salt. That should have helped and in my experience that gurgling helped most of the times. But what went wrong this time?
I also went vegan these two weeks. I reasoned that I should not impose my body with extra stress in the form of rich foods while it was battling with the flu virus. I don’t know how appropriate my response was. So, for the last 2 weeks, I was on rice and vegetables.
One interesting experience from these vegan weeks is that after a little more than a week into the vegan trip, my body developed cravings for meats.
Incidentally, Joi Ito also went vegan for the several weeks. Comments to his particular post about his vegan weeks are truly illuminating.
I’ll try taking the pills from tomorrow for three days.
But I’ve been gurgling with lukewarm water with a pinch of salt. That should have helped and in my experience that gurgling helped most of the times. But what went wrong this time?
I also went vegan these two weeks. I reasoned that I should not impose my body with extra stress in the form of rich foods while it was battling with the flu virus. I don’t know how appropriate my response was. So, for the last 2 weeks, I was on rice and vegetables.
One interesting experience from these vegan weeks is that after a little more than a week into the vegan trip, my body developed cravings for meats.
Incidentally, Joi Ito also went vegan for the several weeks. Comments to his particular post about his vegan weeks are truly illuminating.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Total rest
I’d not step out of my house today which is a kind of record for me! I don’t particularly support the bandh called by the rebels of the NE region. Imphal was more or less shut down—absolutely no business of any sort here today.
In the evening also I didn’t go to the reading room. The newspaper agencies play it safe and do not distribute the papers even though they receive them from the airport. In the absence of newspapers, the reading room caretaker also thinks it wise not to open it on bandh days.
Anyway, I take it as good chance to take a full day’s rest. And, I now suspect that I again caught the flu virus on 19th or 20th of this month as I was on the process of shaking off the other strain that I caught during the first week. I tried to return to my rigorous routine on these two days. So, here I’m tied down by flu virus for more than 2 weeks now.
But today I feel better.
In the evening I turned to music. I dug up my playlists. Among them, I found one song by Audioslave which was mesmerizing. The song—‘I’m the Highway’. I have no idea how old the song but there is something about this song.
In the evening also I didn’t go to the reading room. The newspaper agencies play it safe and do not distribute the papers even though they receive them from the airport. In the absence of newspapers, the reading room caretaker also thinks it wise not to open it on bandh days.
Anyway, I take it as good chance to take a full day’s rest. And, I now suspect that I again caught the flu virus on 19th or 20th of this month as I was on the process of shaking off the other strain that I caught during the first week. I tried to return to my rigorous routine on these two days. So, here I’m tied down by flu virus for more than 2 weeks now.
But today I feel better.
In the evening I turned to music. I dug up my playlists. Among them, I found one song by Audioslave which was mesmerizing. The song—‘I’m the Highway’. I have no idea how old the song but there is something about this song.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Shootings
There were two shootings, which were apparently election-related. One was proved fatal and the other was injured in the leg.
Most interesting thing is that there were immediate reactions alleging that the shooting were motivated, meaning that they were meant to intimidate some particular contestants of the election thereby putting some other particular candidates in stronger positions in the coming elections.
How the rebels would try to influence the coming elections but still come out of it not smeared by the ugly mud slinging of a typical election?
It would be extremely crucial question.
I want to go out and try to get a feel of the developing situations but I still need to rest for some days more.
Most interesting thing is that there were immediate reactions alleging that the shooting were motivated, meaning that they were meant to intimidate some particular contestants of the election thereby putting some other particular candidates in stronger positions in the coming elections.
How the rebels would try to influence the coming elections but still come out of it not smeared by the ugly mud slinging of a typical election?
It would be extremely crucial question.
I want to go out and try to get a feel of the developing situations but I still need to rest for some days more.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Three factors
The electioneering is so low key that there is a sense of unreal about the whole affair. As I’m typing this there are not many voices over the public address systems announcing election meetings. Neither are there any mobile campaigns on the streets seeking votes.
There are only 10 days left for the elections and the night is as still as just another normal night.
As for myself, I can name only two candidates for our constituency—one the sitting MLA, who is also the nominee for MPP and the other, the Congress party nominee. I even have no idea about the number of contestants in the field!
But I think the voters have already decided in favour of the Manipur People’s Party. To my mind, there are three factors behind this development.
>> It seems that the time has come for Mr L. Chandramani, who is the brand new president of MPP. Just like Mr A.B Vajpayee’s ‘ab meri bari hai’ moment. Everybody in Manipur more or less agree that Chandramani is one of the fittest candidates for the post of Chief Ministership but somehow the post eludes so far.
>> The rebels of Manipur have so totally controlled the finances of the State that their nest logical step is to try to influence the political process it self. I’m surprised at the speed at which they insurrect the MPP into a serious contender of power in the State. Three months back nobody had even thought that MPP would return 3 MLAs to the new Assembly. It is almost the proverbial rise of the Phoenix.
>> The rape and killing of Manorama and the ongoing fast by Sharmila also contribute to the public mood. A simple girl named Manorama was rape and murdered by the troopers and the prime minister of the land came and announced publicly that he was a father of two daughters and thus could feel how the parents of Manorama would have felt. He promised publicly that he would do everything in his power to punish the guilty. But nothing happened. Not even a suspension in the ranks of the troopers!
And, right at the moment they are slowly murdering a simple named Sharmila.
Thus folks just feel in their bones that they are living under the shadow of a power that be which has neither an iota of feelings for them nor is fit to rule a human society.
There are only 10 days left for the elections and the night is as still as just another normal night.
As for myself, I can name only two candidates for our constituency—one the sitting MLA, who is also the nominee for MPP and the other, the Congress party nominee. I even have no idea about the number of contestants in the field!
But I think the voters have already decided in favour of the Manipur People’s Party. To my mind, there are three factors behind this development.
>> It seems that the time has come for Mr L. Chandramani, who is the brand new president of MPP. Just like Mr A.B Vajpayee’s ‘ab meri bari hai’ moment. Everybody in Manipur more or less agree that Chandramani is one of the fittest candidates for the post of Chief Ministership but somehow the post eludes so far.
>> The rebels of Manipur have so totally controlled the finances of the State that their nest logical step is to try to influence the political process it self. I’m surprised at the speed at which they insurrect the MPP into a serious contender of power in the State. Three months back nobody had even thought that MPP would return 3 MLAs to the new Assembly. It is almost the proverbial rise of the Phoenix.
>> The rape and killing of Manorama and the ongoing fast by Sharmila also contribute to the public mood. A simple girl named Manorama was rape and murdered by the troopers and the prime minister of the land came and announced publicly that he was a father of two daughters and thus could feel how the parents of Manorama would have felt. He promised publicly that he would do everything in his power to punish the guilty. But nothing happened. Not even a suspension in the ranks of the troopers!
And, right at the moment they are slowly murdering a simple named Sharmila.
Thus folks just feel in their bones that they are living under the shadow of a power that be which has neither an iota of feelings for them nor is fit to rule a human society.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
ISKCON bomb blast has just become the cannon fodder for petty political gamesmanship
The last three days are truly important days in the political history of Manipur. Let’s see the chronology of events.
20th – The Director General of Police announced in an event called ‘ Police-Media interaction’ that they had the details of the perpetrators of the ISKCON bomb blast. They are, according to him, going to make public the details in right time.
21st—In a Public meeting the sitting MLA of the Keisamthong Assembly Constituency announced that he took the advice of the rebels and chose to contest from a local party platform. Indirectly he clearly hinted that he (and his party) had the blessings of the rebels.
22nd—Mr A.B. Bardhan, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India, expressed his fear that the election would be hijacked by the rebels.
If we try to find the trend behind the happenings during these three days, then it would be clear that the rebels are throwing their weight to influence the political process and thus the working of the State Assembly. It is also clear that they are trying to hand over the rein of power to a local party, MPP.
So, what’s the response of the Chief Minister, his cabinet ministers and the ruling parties as a whole?
Here, we have to remember the announcement of the Director General of Police. In plain language, the power that be, using the DGP as proxy, sends the clearest message to the rebels that if they don’t desist from supporting the MPP in full throttle, they would disclose that they (the rebels) are behind the ISCKON bomb blast.
Thus, the ISKCON bomb has become a cannon fodder for the petty political gamesmanship.
From a purely Machiavellian point of view, the Chief Minister’s response is a superb countermove.
But what about the future of this society, our principles and our resolve to fight the scour of the 21st century, terrorism?
What about them?
20th – The Director General of Police announced in an event called ‘ Police-Media interaction’ that they had the details of the perpetrators of the ISKCON bomb blast. They are, according to him, going to make public the details in right time.
21st—In a Public meeting the sitting MLA of the Keisamthong Assembly Constituency announced that he took the advice of the rebels and chose to contest from a local party platform. Indirectly he clearly hinted that he (and his party) had the blessings of the rebels.
22nd—Mr A.B. Bardhan, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India, expressed his fear that the election would be hijacked by the rebels.
If we try to find the trend behind the happenings during these three days, then it would be clear that the rebels are throwing their weight to influence the political process and thus the working of the State Assembly. It is also clear that they are trying to hand over the rein of power to a local party, MPP.
So, what’s the response of the Chief Minister, his cabinet ministers and the ruling parties as a whole?
Here, we have to remember the announcement of the Director General of Police. In plain language, the power that be, using the DGP as proxy, sends the clearest message to the rebels that if they don’t desist from supporting the MPP in full throttle, they would disclose that they (the rebels) are behind the ISCKON bomb blast.
Thus, the ISKCON bomb has become a cannon fodder for the petty political gamesmanship.
From a purely Machiavellian point of view, the Chief Minister’s response is a superb countermove.
But what about the future of this society, our principles and our resolve to fight the scour of the 21st century, terrorism?
What about them?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Can't wait for the next few days!
Last night, the sitting MLA of the Keisamthong constituency spoke (see my last post) in the election meeting as if he was already elected and was one of the cabinet ministers! He openly said that they were s osure of forming the next government in the State. He also openly let it be known that they have the blessings of the rebels.
Read this together with what Mr A.B.Bardhan, general secretary, CPI has to say about this election. All the papers today quoted Mr Bardhan as saying in Imphal that this election is likely to be hijacked by the rebels. Tongue firmly in cheek, he appealed to the rebels to leave the election (the sacrosanct one?) alone!
The tone of the statement of Mr Bardhan suggests beyond all reasonable doubts that the rebels are having the upper hands.
I’m terribly intrigued to find out the rebels have managed to do that in such a short period of time. But I’m still tied down by the cold I’ve been battling for the last 7-8 days. With this sneezing and coughing subsiding a little I’ll be ready to go out and try to find their modus operandi.
I can’t wait for the next few days!
Read this together with what Mr A.B.Bardhan, general secretary, CPI has to say about this election. All the papers today quoted Mr Bardhan as saying in Imphal that this election is likely to be hijacked by the rebels. Tongue firmly in cheek, he appealed to the rebels to leave the election (the sacrosanct one?) alone!
The tone of the statement of Mr Bardhan suggests beyond all reasonable doubts that the rebels are having the upper hands.
I’m terribly intrigued to find out the rebels have managed to do that in such a short period of time. But I’m still tied down by the cold I’ve been battling for the last 7-8 days. With this sneezing and coughing subsiding a little I’ll be ready to go out and try to find their modus operandi.
I can’t wait for the next few days!
Monday, January 22, 2007
MLA Laisom Ibomcha's public announcement
I was in the thick of making preparations for cooking my dinner. It was around 9 in the night. A voice over the public address system announced the ongoing election meeting nearby. I could hear the actual proceedings of the meeting clearly.
After several speakers, the candidate came to the mike. From his voice, I can clearly know that he was the sitting MLA o f our constituency, Mr Laishom Ibomcha.
At the fag end of his speech, he made extremely points summarized below:
>> A joint secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) visited his home twice to ask him to facilitate the initiation for the talk with rebels. He went to meet the rebel leaders. The rebel leaders wanted him to contest from the platform of a local political party.
The interesting part is not of the joint secretary of the PMO visiting him. But it is in the part when he told the gathering that the rebel leaders want him to contest from the platform of a local political party. That he could say it in public means that the rebels have approved dragging their names in the election campaigning. That, in itself, is a remarkable development.
During the last few months of 2006, there were whispered talks in our locality that the sitting MLA was summoned to Bangkok by rebel leaders. Apparently he went there twice. It was said that the brief given to him by the rebels was to find out some legal framework on which the holding of plebiscite can discussed with the Government of India. We gave to note here that he was also the former Law Secretary in the Manipur Government Secretariat.
I also remember asking one of brother-in-laws who is a very active worker of the sitting MLA about the veracity of the rumour. He told me that the story was authentic and the MLA went to Bangkok to meet the rebel leaders. But, he hastened to add that the MLA himself was not ready to admit even to them about his trip to Bangkok.
So, I decided that if the MLA himself was not ready to talk about it then it sure was in the realm of plane speculation. And, I decide not to take interest in the whispered talks whirling around then.
Now, the MLA himself publicly announced the trips he had undertaken at the behest of the rebel leaders for the groundwork of a talk with New Delhi.
After several speakers, the candidate came to the mike. From his voice, I can clearly know that he was the sitting MLA o f our constituency, Mr Laishom Ibomcha.
At the fag end of his speech, he made extremely points summarized below:
>> A joint secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) visited his home twice to ask him to facilitate the initiation for the talk with rebels. He went to meet the rebel leaders. The rebel leaders wanted him to contest from the platform of a local political party.
The interesting part is not of the joint secretary of the PMO visiting him. But it is in the part when he told the gathering that the rebel leaders want him to contest from the platform of a local political party. That he could say it in public means that the rebels have approved dragging their names in the election campaigning. That, in itself, is a remarkable development.
During the last few months of 2006, there were whispered talks in our locality that the sitting MLA was summoned to Bangkok by rebel leaders. Apparently he went there twice. It was said that the brief given to him by the rebels was to find out some legal framework on which the holding of plebiscite can discussed with the Government of India. We gave to note here that he was also the former Law Secretary in the Manipur Government Secretariat.
I also remember asking one of brother-in-laws who is a very active worker of the sitting MLA about the veracity of the rumour. He told me that the story was authentic and the MLA went to Bangkok to meet the rebel leaders. But, he hastened to add that the MLA himself was not ready to admit even to them about his trip to Bangkok.
So, I decided that if the MLA himself was not ready to talk about it then it sure was in the realm of plane speculation. And, I decide not to take interest in the whispered talks whirling around then.
Now, the MLA himself publicly announced the trips he had undertaken at the behest of the rebel leaders for the groundwork of a talk with New Delhi.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Reading room banters!
The small reading room, which provides me all the daily newspapers in its Spartan two-desks-in-a-single-room facility even have a survivor of the ISKCON bomb blast as one its regular readers! Sometimes, he rolls up his trousers to shoe off his wounds in his shins. It’s horrible to see that grenade wounds—really horrible. We tend to see grenades as some run-of-the-mill weapons of war but I change my opinion—the scale of damage it can inflict to a human being is really, really horrible.
Today’s papers carried a story of the DGP telling the media that they knew who were behind the ISKCON blast and they would disclose the identity at the right time.
What is right time?
Most of the times, I’m totally pissed off by the loud talking and even louder debates by my co-readers in that reading room! But that said, where would I get such nuggets if they desist from talking loud in that reading room?
>> Rebels leaders pulling strings from Bangkok pulled off the near miracle of settling leadership issue of Manipur People’s party within the time frame of one single night.
That was the hottest subject in that reading room some months back. At that time I only smiled at myself hearing them talking like that. But now I think that there must some grains of truth in that. Some months back there was that unruly fight between Mr O. Joy and one Borajao for the leadership of MPP. There were frequent pitch battles between their followers in the office premises of the Party. Ultimately, their fight went all the way to the High Court.
Then, one fine morning all the papers screamed at their headlines that Dr L. Chandramani had become the president of the Party and all the pending cases before the High Court were withdrawn by the litigants themselves!
>> The rebels are trying to influence the outcome of the election and hence the functioning of the State Assembly.
This is the current line of discussion in that reading room. I’m at a loss trying to unravel how the rebels would have a say in the outcome of the election. Would they gun power and dictate that the voters should vote for some pre-selected list of candidates? How? How?
But still I now come to term with the fact that rebels are indeed in the field trying to influence the result of the election. If it is not the case, then I cannot see any reason why there have been such mad scrambles for getting tickets for MPP. Now, every promising candidate wants to contest the election as one of the official candidates of MPP. It is a huge change in the political firmament of Manipur, that too in such a short time—within some months.
>> Last nights temperature was -3 degrees!
This is the subject of discussion of the reading room this evening.
Again, I think that it must be true because I’m typing this it is unusually cold here. My Google homepage has a daily Imphal weather report in it but it never shows a –degree readings. But they are giving the reading in Fahrenheit.
It’s cold, really cold here.
Today’s papers carried a story of the DGP telling the media that they knew who were behind the ISKCON blast and they would disclose the identity at the right time.
What is right time?
Most of the times, I’m totally pissed off by the loud talking and even louder debates by my co-readers in that reading room! But that said, where would I get such nuggets if they desist from talking loud in that reading room?
>> Rebels leaders pulling strings from Bangkok pulled off the near miracle of settling leadership issue of Manipur People’s party within the time frame of one single night.
That was the hottest subject in that reading room some months back. At that time I only smiled at myself hearing them talking like that. But now I think that there must some grains of truth in that. Some months back there was that unruly fight between Mr O. Joy and one Borajao for the leadership of MPP. There were frequent pitch battles between their followers in the office premises of the Party. Ultimately, their fight went all the way to the High Court.
Then, one fine morning all the papers screamed at their headlines that Dr L. Chandramani had become the president of the Party and all the pending cases before the High Court were withdrawn by the litigants themselves!
>> The rebels are trying to influence the outcome of the election and hence the functioning of the State Assembly.
This is the current line of discussion in that reading room. I’m at a loss trying to unravel how the rebels would have a say in the outcome of the election. Would they gun power and dictate that the voters should vote for some pre-selected list of candidates? How? How?
But still I now come to term with the fact that rebels are indeed in the field trying to influence the result of the election. If it is not the case, then I cannot see any reason why there have been such mad scrambles for getting tickets for MPP. Now, every promising candidate wants to contest the election as one of the official candidates of MPP. It is a huge change in the political firmament of Manipur, that too in such a short time—within some months.
>> Last nights temperature was -3 degrees!
This is the subject of discussion of the reading room this evening.
Again, I think that it must be true because I’m typing this it is unusually cold here. My Google homepage has a daily Imphal weather report in it but it never shows a –degree readings. But they are giving the reading in Fahrenheit.
It’s cold, really cold here.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
It's getting closer
It was around 10.30 pm when I was eating my dinner.
In the middle of my dinner that military came again.
To my mind it is a military plane is a foregone conclusion because no one in Manipur has the resource to fly planes late at night.
And, tonight it was getting really closer. I got the sensation of hearing a plane flying in my immediate surrounding. The sound of the plane flying in such a range produces such a load noise. In the earlier sorties at night, I got the distinct impression that it was really hard to avoid disturbing the general population. But tonight they seemed to give a damn about such niceties. If they do like tonight 3 or 4 times, people will start noticing and asking questions.
But after 10 minutes or so it was gone. As I was eating my dinner, I had no chance to see where it was heading when it left the scene. I only had a quick peek at the flying object when I first heard it flying so close. Tonight it also seemed to flying towards Loktak area but by making wider circles towards us. So the loader noise of the flying machine.
How do anybody achieve by 10 minutes’ worth sorties? Even if it was training sorties, what is the use of flying for 10 minutes and call it a day?
It confuses me.
In the middle of my dinner that military came again.
To my mind it is a military plane is a foregone conclusion because no one in Manipur has the resource to fly planes late at night.
And, tonight it was getting really closer. I got the sensation of hearing a plane flying in my immediate surrounding. The sound of the plane flying in such a range produces such a load noise. In the earlier sorties at night, I got the distinct impression that it was really hard to avoid disturbing the general population. But tonight they seemed to give a damn about such niceties. If they do like tonight 3 or 4 times, people will start noticing and asking questions.
But after 10 minutes or so it was gone. As I was eating my dinner, I had no chance to see where it was heading when it left the scene. I only had a quick peek at the flying object when I first heard it flying so close. Tonight it also seemed to flying towards Loktak area but by making wider circles towards us. So the loader noise of the flying machine.
How do anybody achieve by 10 minutes’ worth sorties? Even if it was training sorties, what is the use of flying for 10 minutes and call it a day?
It confuses me.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Beautiful
Normally, I take the path along the Kangla Park to reach the small reading room near GM Hall.
Today, I changed course and instead, walked through Paona Bazar Road.
Right from the mouth of the Paona Bazar Road, at the Paona International Market, I was jostled by the rush of shoppers. There were so many shoppers around. The cars and other vehicles they came with, were parked right upto the middle of the street! Why were so many shoppers?
When I reached the other mouth at the end of the Paona Bazar Road, I could not even space to take a step forward. The area was packed with so many people. And, they were shopping!
Well, I walked through the crowd thinking why there were such heavy rushes of shoppers in this part of the year.
When the flyover was still under construction, they had fenced off the construction area and that too, right in the middle of the street. Now, all the fences were dismantled and there is so much space is available by the side the flyover and under it. But still there is no even space for taking a step forward. Is it because of the surge in the population of the State? But we understand that the State’s population is not increasing at that scale.
When I reached BT Road, I saw some workmen trying hard to put up a sign at the steel gate at the mouth of the flyover. The sign was ‘ Welcome to Bir Tikendrajit Flyover’.
So, it’s official. They are naming it ‘Bir Tikendrajit Flyover’.
Just near the small reading room, there is a restaurant called ‘Talk of the town’. This evening the place was jammed with so many beautiful people eating out.
Well, I forgot to mention earlier that when I passed through the mass of shoppers, I was mesmerized with the abundance of so many beautiful people around!
Imphal seems to be chockfull of beautiful people this evening!
Today, I changed course and instead, walked through Paona Bazar Road.
Right from the mouth of the Paona Bazar Road, at the Paona International Market, I was jostled by the rush of shoppers. There were so many shoppers around. The cars and other vehicles they came with, were parked right upto the middle of the street! Why were so many shoppers?
When I reached the other mouth at the end of the Paona Bazar Road, I could not even space to take a step forward. The area was packed with so many people. And, they were shopping!
Well, I walked through the crowd thinking why there were such heavy rushes of shoppers in this part of the year.
When the flyover was still under construction, they had fenced off the construction area and that too, right in the middle of the street. Now, all the fences were dismantled and there is so much space is available by the side the flyover and under it. But still there is no even space for taking a step forward. Is it because of the surge in the population of the State? But we understand that the State’s population is not increasing at that scale.
When I reached BT Road, I saw some workmen trying hard to put up a sign at the steel gate at the mouth of the flyover. The sign was ‘ Welcome to Bir Tikendrajit Flyover’.
So, it’s official. They are naming it ‘Bir Tikendrajit Flyover’.
Just near the small reading room, there is a restaurant called ‘Talk of the town’. This evening the place was jammed with so many beautiful people eating out.
Well, I forgot to mention earlier that when I passed through the mass of shoppers, I was mesmerized with the abundance of so many beautiful people around!
Imphal seems to be chockfull of beautiful people this evening!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Plane watching again!
I’m again in a plane-watching mood!
Tonight at around 7 that UAV-sounding plane came flying very low in South Western horizon. It also seemed to be pretty close to where I was watching it. I suspected that it was hovering very low over Loktak Lake.
After making a circle 3 or 4 times in a rapid succession, it suddenly changed course towards what looked like to me Khoupum valley ranges.
It seemed that it was returning towards its base in Cachar valley.
I’ve read newsreport that India’s elite Para Regiment ( as elite as SAS or DELTA) have established operational base in Shribar in Cachar District of Assam.
What foxes me to this day is that not a single established newspaper carries a single story about night sorties of the plane from Cachar valley. Even if they cannot unearth the military secrets behind these night time sorties, a simple description of the plane with some photographs would be a quite an interesting read.
Tonight at around 7 that UAV-sounding plane came flying very low in South Western horizon. It also seemed to be pretty close to where I was watching it. I suspected that it was hovering very low over Loktak Lake.
After making a circle 3 or 4 times in a rapid succession, it suddenly changed course towards what looked like to me Khoupum valley ranges.
It seemed that it was returning towards its base in Cachar valley.
I’ve read newsreport that India’s elite Para Regiment ( as elite as SAS or DELTA) have established operational base in Shribar in Cachar District of Assam.
What foxes me to this day is that not a single established newspaper carries a single story about night sorties of the plane from Cachar valley. Even if they cannot unearth the military secrets behind these night time sorties, a simple description of the plane with some photographs would be a quite an interesting read.
Mr Obama has a middle name!
It is now fairly certain that Mr Obama will run for the presidency of the USA.
He has just announced a preparatory committee for the purpose. He announced the formation of the committee in his site.
In reading the story of the announcement what proved to be most interesting to me is the middle name of Mr. Obama. His full name is Mr Barack Hussein Obama.
Imagine someone having a middle name ‘Hussein’ becoming the President of US!
He was born to a white American lady and a gentleman from Kenya. When he was 2 years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother married an Indonesian and the new family moved to Jakarta. The young Barack was brought up by his maternal grandma in Hawaii.
It is apparent that his father has Islam as his religion.
My fullest support for Barack Hussein in his bid for the presidency of the US!
He has just announced a preparatory committee for the purpose. He announced the formation of the committee in his site.
In reading the story of the announcement what proved to be most interesting to me is the middle name of Mr. Obama. His full name is Mr Barack Hussein Obama.
Imagine someone having a middle name ‘Hussein’ becoming the President of US!
He was born to a white American lady and a gentleman from Kenya. When he was 2 years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother married an Indonesian and the new family moved to Jakarta. The young Barack was brought up by his maternal grandma in Hawaii.
It is apparent that his father has Islam as his religion.
My fullest support for Barack Hussein in his bid for the presidency of the US!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Only the cursory looks
Gen JJ Singh has just laid down 10 point guideline for his soldiers in discharging their duties in counter-insurgency operations.
Some days ago, I also read the report on the Army’s doctrine on handling counter-insurgency which they termed as sub-conventional warfare.
This evening it was quite windy and chilly. And I suspected that I might develop a fever as the flu virus attack on me is showing no sign of letting up. So, I quickly returned home from the library with only a cursory look at the headlines.
In the meantime, I’m reading an older post of mine. It was dated 15th Nov 2006 and it dealt with the Army’s doctrine of the acceptance of limited rebellion in the country.
Here is the link.
And, tomorrow, I’ll try to present a cogent opinion on the subject.
Some days ago, I also read the report on the Army’s doctrine on handling counter-insurgency which they termed as sub-conventional warfare.
This evening it was quite windy and chilly. And I suspected that I might develop a fever as the flu virus attack on me is showing no sign of letting up. So, I quickly returned home from the library with only a cursory look at the headlines.
In the meantime, I’m reading an older post of mine. It was dated 15th Nov 2006 and it dealt with the Army’s doctrine of the acceptance of limited rebellion in the country.
Here is the link.
And, tomorrow, I’ll try to present a cogent opinion on the subject.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
REALLY?
Like last night, tonight saw Keisampat and Paona Bazar areas thrown into complete darkness. When I returned home along the Paona Bazar Road from my daily visit to the small library near G.M.Hall, I felt like actually traveling inside a tunnel. Not a light in sight.
Last night was an exception of sort. I personally visited the ‘complaint room’ telling them that there was this power outrage in my area. They said they would they would look into it. Apparently, they didn’t. I only got power supply in my house only late in the evening today.
What is my response to this state of affair? As a private citizen living in such a situation, what ought to be my reaction to it?
It would seem to be an irony but I’m actually enthusiastic in my response to it!
I’ve a friend who lives around 6-7 kms from Imphal. Such a small distance from here but they are living just near a hill range.
I told this friend of mine not to bank on Manipur Govt’s services regarding power supply. Instead, go in for a small wind mill. I told him about a small business in Langol housing complex dealing in small wind mills.
Whenever I’m Langol housing complex area I make it point to have a look at office of the wind mill guys. They put up some wind mills in their office premises, apparently for demonstration purposes. They are wind mills as small as an exhaust fans! Although small in size, they are so furiously there. I’ve no doubt in mind that in Langol areas if someone put up several of puny wind mills they can be effectively out of the Manipur Government power grid.
Whenever I see those small wind mills working so furiously, I rue my predicament of not living near a hill range.
That’s the reason why I was so enthusiastic at telling my friend about those wind mills.
Seeing my enthusiasm, my friend smiled and replied—‘I know’.
He knows? And, doing nothing when actually living near a hill range?
He informed me that those wind mills were advertised on the daily basis on the spots of ISTV News! Well, I’ve been living without ISTV news for so many years!
He further informed me that he actually saw some of those puny wind mills coming up in Nagamapal and RIMS Road areas.
This time I replied---‘Really?’.
Last night was an exception of sort. I personally visited the ‘complaint room’ telling them that there was this power outrage in my area. They said they would they would look into it. Apparently, they didn’t. I only got power supply in my house only late in the evening today.
What is my response to this state of affair? As a private citizen living in such a situation, what ought to be my reaction to it?
It would seem to be an irony but I’m actually enthusiastic in my response to it!
I’ve a friend who lives around 6-7 kms from Imphal. Such a small distance from here but they are living just near a hill range.
I told this friend of mine not to bank on Manipur Govt’s services regarding power supply. Instead, go in for a small wind mill. I told him about a small business in Langol housing complex dealing in small wind mills.
Whenever I’m Langol housing complex area I make it point to have a look at office of the wind mill guys. They put up some wind mills in their office premises, apparently for demonstration purposes. They are wind mills as small as an exhaust fans! Although small in size, they are so furiously there. I’ve no doubt in mind that in Langol areas if someone put up several of puny wind mills they can be effectively out of the Manipur Government power grid.
Whenever I see those small wind mills working so furiously, I rue my predicament of not living near a hill range.
That’s the reason why I was so enthusiastic at telling my friend about those wind mills.
Seeing my enthusiasm, my friend smiled and replied—‘I know’.
He knows? And, doing nothing when actually living near a hill range?
He informed me that those wind mills were advertised on the daily basis on the spots of ISTV News! Well, I’ve been living without ISTV news for so many years!
He further informed me that he actually saw some of those puny wind mills coming up in Nagamapal and RIMS Road areas.
This time I replied---‘Really?’.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Some crazy resting moments!!
I’m taking rest. May be, for some days.
It’s wonder how man reacts to his environment. Because I’m living alone, I can’t afford to be bed-ridden even for some days. Even if I’m not feeling well, I still want to be able to cook my own meals and do other chores for my personal upkeep.
That being my ‘environment’, something inside me always tells me when I start traveling towards that area where I would be ‘bed-ridden’.
Whenever I feel this way, I immediately disengage myself completely from my commitments and scheduled tasks and take rest for some days. After some days I always manage (so far!) to return to normal regime. I also always try to avoid popping pills.
I’m trying to return to my normal by Monday.
Taking rest enables me to cook my dinner early. I finished eating by around 10 pm.
But I had still to climb the ladder and pour water over the overhead beams, over which roof RCC slab is to be laid. I had to pour water over them and wrap them tightly with plastic sheets. It was nearly 11 pm when I finished with them.
It took me nearly 1 hour doing that!
Some crazy resting moments!!
It’s wonder how man reacts to his environment. Because I’m living alone, I can’t afford to be bed-ridden even for some days. Even if I’m not feeling well, I still want to be able to cook my own meals and do other chores for my personal upkeep.
That being my ‘environment’, something inside me always tells me when I start traveling towards that area where I would be ‘bed-ridden’.
Whenever I feel this way, I immediately disengage myself completely from my commitments and scheduled tasks and take rest for some days. After some days I always manage (so far!) to return to normal regime. I also always try to avoid popping pills.
I’m trying to return to my normal by Monday.
Taking rest enables me to cook my dinner early. I finished eating by around 10 pm.
But I had still to climb the ladder and pour water over the overhead beams, over which roof RCC slab is to be laid. I had to pour water over them and wrap them tightly with plastic sheets. It was nearly 11 pm when I finished with them.
It took me nearly 1 hour doing that!
Some crazy resting moments!!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Fighting cold
Right now, I’m struggling to shake off an impending bout of cold.
Last night when I was there at my sister’s place, another of my sister, with her hubby in tow, marched into the house. They came unannounced. Two brother-in-laws, glowing charcoal stove and never-ending plates of kanghou proved to be real time killer. It was more than 9 in the night when I returned home.
But, before the arrival of that sister, I was there in front of my sister’s computer watching movies. She has 17” LCD monitor and it’s really superior viewing experience that struck me most. Last night saw marathon movie watching. I watched 2 movies non-stop.
Carried away by the movies, I really didn’t remember feeling getting a chill in front of that computer. Now, I think it was during those movie moments that I met my tryst with this impending cold!!
Last night when I was there at my sister’s place, another of my sister, with her hubby in tow, marched into the house. They came unannounced. Two brother-in-laws, glowing charcoal stove and never-ending plates of kanghou proved to be real time killer. It was more than 9 in the night when I returned home.
But, before the arrival of that sister, I was there in front of my sister’s computer watching movies. She has 17” LCD monitor and it’s really superior viewing experience that struck me most. Last night saw marathon movie watching. I watched 2 movies non-stop.
Carried away by the movies, I really didn’t remember feeling getting a chill in front of that computer. Now, I think it was during those movie moments that I met my tryst with this impending cold!!
Friday, January 12, 2007
My brush with history!
This I didn’t prompt her! Tonight, one of my sisters invited me for dinner. As is evident from the timestamp of this post, I arrived at the blogosphere a bit early. But I’m also going to bed early. For several nights now, it was well past 1 in the morning when I retired to my bed. That will be bad for health.
Talking of health, my stock of green tea exhausted yesterday.
Developing a liking for green tea in Imphal is proving to be a real struggle! Most of the time, I bought my stock from Guwahati. Several kgs at a time. That was in the early days. I made enquiries at all the tea leave distributors of Imphal but they said they were procuring all their stocks from auction and they could not get green tea from there.
In the meantime, I came across a packed green tea from a guwahati-based company. But yesterday, when I went to my grocer for a packet, all of them were marked as manufactured in 2005. The packet also clearly mentioned that it should be used within 1 year of the manufactured date.
So, what to do now?
As a last resort, I again visited a distributor at B.T. Road. This time they have the stock. The guy at the counter informed me that they had just started keeping the stock. They will be keeping the stock at the rate of 5 kgs a month! They are kind of testing the market.
As I returned home in the afternoon with my 100 gms of green tea, a thought occurred to me.
If someone, for some reason, starts compiling the Cheitharol Kumbaba for the 21st Century, there would be an entry for the month of 2007 like this:
Beginning the early part of the first of the first of the year 2007, a distributor, located at the historic B.T. Road at Imphal started selling green tea for the first time in Manipur, keeping the stock, for the start, at the rate of 5 kgs per month.
I am absolutely certain that it would be totally valid entry in the Kumbaba!
Well, it was my brush with history for the 11th day of the first month of the year 2007!!
Talking of health, my stock of green tea exhausted yesterday.
Developing a liking for green tea in Imphal is proving to be a real struggle! Most of the time, I bought my stock from Guwahati. Several kgs at a time. That was in the early days. I made enquiries at all the tea leave distributors of Imphal but they said they were procuring all their stocks from auction and they could not get green tea from there.
In the meantime, I came across a packed green tea from a guwahati-based company. But yesterday, when I went to my grocer for a packet, all of them were marked as manufactured in 2005. The packet also clearly mentioned that it should be used within 1 year of the manufactured date.
So, what to do now?
As a last resort, I again visited a distributor at B.T. Road. This time they have the stock. The guy at the counter informed me that they had just started keeping the stock. They will be keeping the stock at the rate of 5 kgs a month! They are kind of testing the market.
As I returned home in the afternoon with my 100 gms of green tea, a thought occurred to me.
If someone, for some reason, starts compiling the Cheitharol Kumbaba for the 21st Century, there would be an entry for the month of 2007 like this:
Beginning the early part of the first of the first of the year 2007, a distributor, located at the historic B.T. Road at Imphal started selling green tea for the first time in Manipur, keeping the stock, for the start, at the rate of 5 kgs per month.
I am absolutely certain that it would be totally valid entry in the Kumbaba!
Well, it was my brush with history for the 11th day of the first month of the year 2007!!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The remaining portion of the text
Last night, I stopped at the third sentence of the third paragraph of the article. Tonight’s first paragraph forms the remaining part of the third paragraph of the article.
***Ngasi eikhoigi khunnaisigi naharolpumbana chaokhatpa lamdamgi namunani haiduna nongchuplomgi sex free oiba jatising-gi phijet-chaakset, chaatcha-yuthakki matou kanna tamnaribasi thik nembana tha laamba haibadu thok-e; keidounungda aphaba phal oiroi/ Masigi maang-oinana eikhoisu chaokhat lamjelda saruk yabada noptanaba thoidok hendokpa adhyantikki phidam kharada meetou tamba heinakhisi/ Ngasigi bigyan ngamkhei naidaba lamjelda maangjil thaakhraba jatising-di indrigi ning-kha paambagi matik thing-ngamdaba waakhalgi shakti mai-on chumna maching-paanna sijinnaba heinajaba, indomitable courage leiba luxurious lifena heritage culture oijaba punsigi marek-mahou khangna hingjaba jatisingni/ Makhoiga chaangdamnarubada eikhoidi will power sukleimak-leite haina louba yai/ Chinglon maapanna koisinba lamdamsigi climate mahousana moderatre oiba ka-henna saba nattraga engba thoktaba, akanba yuhar amadi nonglei-nungshitki saaphu phangdaba, meigi ching-gi meepaining-ngaisu leitraba naturalbalance kaijadaba environmental condition kaya asina natural calamitygi ka-henba khaang-ning-ngai ethil amattasu hakthengnadraba pangcha-cha, pangsu-su chamna hingjaba eikhoini/
Khunnaisigi pang-gal sijinnadaba komna sel taanba heiba okta-eraang khangba kaangbu kharana masagita yengduna modern civilizationgi matou maannaba beauty parlour amadi restaurant kaya additional cabin haaptuna sahargi kaachin koya pumbada paaktaknana lingkhatnarakpadagi nouriba chhatra-naharol kaya restaurantki chiklaba amamba kakhuda sexki para ouraibada lupa 50-60dagi taadana chaading touba taarak-e/
Ma-ngaal naiba maheiroigi waakhalna lumtharaba maithoingda kaaba arangba lekki rasi-gun pumba eraang-gi saphuna thaksingkhre/ Khutpham chaadana tengi liri chingthokliba maheiroi pumba nongmadon onkhat-tuna kaapkadaba tenjeisingda leikup-leiraida nishaan toukhibana uton youoningbagi asha thadok-khre/ Asigisu mathakta ngasigi bigyangi pot-thokta leiyengna experiment toubagi chatnabi ama eikhoigi self control leijadaba mabuk-paandaba luxuryda ngoujaba nahasingda yok-khat-khibadagi asibagi mongpham pumba drug addictsing-gi asiba hakchaangna leiron naina kupsinbagi loiba naidari/
Adunadi, achangba samaj ama saagat-nabagidamak prithibigi jati pumbagi sumhat-yai-pubi kangleipungna kangleichasing-gi yumpham oiri-gnei, waayen mapuna ukkan oiba yumthak kuplaga yumbi oiba naharol eikhoibu matamgi nongleidagi kanbinaba security forcena phaklaang kharaga leiba pukning waakhalgi yotpina mai-on chumna yeisinduna kaang-khong chairaba samajgi saktamsibu amatta oina punsinduna thamnabagidamak maanglam-chakki achum-araan-gi bicharna tung-oi-nana thamlasi, tunglamchatki waayen bicharna taibang mapuda sinnathoksi; sikhibana sikhrabasu hingliba kouba eikhoidi houjik haiba pungphamsida eikhoigi pukning-waakhalbu best levelda sijinnaba tamba hourasi/ Mapaanthong-gi arang-araakta meetou tamba thaadok-tuna prithibi laanna paikhraga atoppa graha amada saadongduna prakritigi drishyabu mapum oina amuktang yengtharakke ningliba yotki maringjeldudamak phidam oina loukhisi/***
***Ngasi eikhoigi khunnaisigi naharolpumbana chaokhatpa lamdamgi namunani haiduna nongchuplomgi sex free oiba jatising-gi phijet-chaakset, chaatcha-yuthakki matou kanna tamnaribasi thik nembana tha laamba haibadu thok-e; keidounungda aphaba phal oiroi/ Masigi maang-oinana eikhoisu chaokhat lamjelda saruk yabada noptanaba thoidok hendokpa adhyantikki phidam kharada meetou tamba heinakhisi/ Ngasigi bigyan ngamkhei naidaba lamjelda maangjil thaakhraba jatising-di indrigi ning-kha paambagi matik thing-ngamdaba waakhalgi shakti mai-on chumna maching-paanna sijinnaba heinajaba, indomitable courage leiba luxurious lifena heritage culture oijaba punsigi marek-mahou khangna hingjaba jatisingni/ Makhoiga chaangdamnarubada eikhoidi will power sukleimak-leite haina louba yai/ Chinglon maapanna koisinba lamdamsigi climate mahousana moderatre oiba ka-henna saba nattraga engba thoktaba, akanba yuhar amadi nonglei-nungshitki saaphu phangdaba, meigi ching-gi meepaining-ngaisu leitraba naturalbalance kaijadaba environmental condition kaya asina natural calamitygi ka-henba khaang-ning-ngai ethil amattasu hakthengnadraba pangcha-cha, pangsu-su chamna hingjaba eikhoini/
Khunnaisigi pang-gal sijinnadaba komna sel taanba heiba okta-eraang khangba kaangbu kharana masagita yengduna modern civilizationgi matou maannaba beauty parlour amadi restaurant kaya additional cabin haaptuna sahargi kaachin koya pumbada paaktaknana lingkhatnarakpadagi nouriba chhatra-naharol kaya restaurantki chiklaba amamba kakhuda sexki para ouraibada lupa 50-60dagi taadana chaading touba taarak-e/
Ma-ngaal naiba maheiroigi waakhalna lumtharaba maithoingda kaaba arangba lekki rasi-gun pumba eraang-gi saphuna thaksingkhre/ Khutpham chaadana tengi liri chingthokliba maheiroi pumba nongmadon onkhat-tuna kaapkadaba tenjeisingda leikup-leiraida nishaan toukhibana uton youoningbagi asha thadok-khre/ Asigisu mathakta ngasigi bigyangi pot-thokta leiyengna experiment toubagi chatnabi ama eikhoigi self control leijadaba mabuk-paandaba luxuryda ngoujaba nahasingda yok-khat-khibadagi asibagi mongpham pumba drug addictsing-gi asiba hakchaangna leiron naina kupsinbagi loiba naidari/
Adunadi, achangba samaj ama saagat-nabagidamak prithibigi jati pumbagi sumhat-yai-pubi kangleipungna kangleichasing-gi yumpham oiri-gnei, waayen mapuna ukkan oiba yumthak kuplaga yumbi oiba naharol eikhoibu matamgi nongleidagi kanbinaba security forcena phaklaang kharaga leiba pukning waakhalgi yotpina mai-on chumna yeisinduna kaang-khong chairaba samajgi saktamsibu amatta oina punsinduna thamnabagidamak maanglam-chakki achum-araan-gi bicharna tung-oi-nana thamlasi, tunglamchatki waayen bicharna taibang mapuda sinnathoksi; sikhibana sikhrabasu hingliba kouba eikhoidi houjik haiba pungphamsida eikhoigi pukning-waakhalbu best levelda sijinnaba tamba hourasi/ Mapaanthong-gi arang-araakta meetou tamba thaadok-tuna prithibi laanna paikhraga atoppa graha amada saadongduna prakritigi drishyabu mapum oina amuktang yengtharakke ningliba yotki maringjeldudamak phidam oina loukhisi/***
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The text
It is an old copy of Huiyen Lanpao of 12-10-1997. It may be an oversight but the paper does not carry the day of the week but I presume that it must be a Sunday. It seems to be a weekly pull out because in the header it was categorized as ‘chayolgi latam’.
Sharmila’s article is in the section ‘Nupigidamak’ and her article is named ‘Yotki Mariljeldumak Phidam Oina Loukhisi’.
It seems to be a one-sheet pullout. The lead article in the page 1 is a travelogue by Lai Imo. Sharmila’s article is the last one, at the right hand bottom of the page 2. On top of it are three poems. On its left there are 2 short stories and a feature on Pol Pot.
Here is the article verbatim in Roman:
*** Mahousa lairembigi khutsemna khaang-ngam pu-ngamdaba thammoida ethil pidaba, atappa a-ingba saratna prithibigi jati pumbagi pukning chingsinbiba eramdam manipurbu aseibasingna ‘sana leibaak’ ming-gounei/ Adubu sanagi leisak leichu heng-gakhanba tampha oiba mani pumba a-ing asagi ayoubi saphu mayoknaba meeramgi chatnarol tamlubadagi nongma nongmagi mami saamjillakle/ Eramdamgi senglaba hawa nungsitna saa-olbikhiba kalagi mathoi haaplamba khunung esheisu nongchuplamgi meisa khaangbada seisaknaba masing-ga phudoktuna lao-khongba sursingna dominate toukhre/ Restriction leiba filmsing, reastaurantgi cabin, beauty parlour, rock musicnachingba amadi samajbu masak thihnabada ahouba thoudaang louriba lamchat naidaba-naidabi kayasina sahityakaargi ephut oina thoraklabada chingya tamya pumnamaksu thak-kha onnaba drisha ngakta urak-le/
Mapanthong-gi meetyengdadi Manipur developing country amagi ma-ngaal ujarabasu kharadang-ga hakchinna yenglabadi nomadic tribesing-gi statustagi pangwaang-waangkhataba civilization amagi shaktam lotlamba urakkani/ Leiton saru paandabana panghai haibra haibadusu tin yot-thaduna khanthaba chang-e/
Eikhoi mee-oibasi eikhoi eikhoigi samajda hek pokpadagi eroinaduna laaklaba enaatki phijet-chaakcha, laininglon, dharma, houna-lonchat, yumbaal-lonnachingba leijaribasigi chatnabi pankhei waangmada leiba eikhoida khwaidagi henna impressive oiba atoppa khunnai amagi influential natureda meehougalli, makhoigi alochanabu eikhoi eikhoigi samajgi punshida paansinduna matou tamgalli/ Tamba haibasimakti chaokhatpa a-onba paamba meeoibana masha inkhakchanabagi eshwarna pibirakpa mamal naidraba gunni/ Aduga tamlibani haiduna mapaanthing-gi outstanding character kharada matou maan-naba khutsemgi turina pangyet yekpanadi enaatki cultureda amadi naharolgi moralityda maksillaba, leikha tana maangsillaklaba shaktam kaya akoibagi ethilgi saaphuda will power laan-na sijinnakhraba khunnaisida apang-thouna ut-thokpa ngambagi manaa oina khudol tambirakpada karamna latnapham thokpage?***
Of course, I’m nearly halfway through the article. I’ll do the remaining tomorrow. It’s because when I started this it was nearly 11.30 pm. Now, I want some time for my daily reads.
Sharmila’s article is in the section ‘Nupigidamak’ and her article is named ‘Yotki Mariljeldumak Phidam Oina Loukhisi’.
It seems to be a one-sheet pullout. The lead article in the page 1 is a travelogue by Lai Imo. Sharmila’s article is the last one, at the right hand bottom of the page 2. On top of it are three poems. On its left there are 2 short stories and a feature on Pol Pot.
Here is the article verbatim in Roman:
*** Mahousa lairembigi khutsemna khaang-ngam pu-ngamdaba thammoida ethil pidaba, atappa a-ingba saratna prithibigi jati pumbagi pukning chingsinbiba eramdam manipurbu aseibasingna ‘sana leibaak’ ming-gounei/ Adubu sanagi leisak leichu heng-gakhanba tampha oiba mani pumba a-ing asagi ayoubi saphu mayoknaba meeramgi chatnarol tamlubadagi nongma nongmagi mami saamjillakle/ Eramdamgi senglaba hawa nungsitna saa-olbikhiba kalagi mathoi haaplamba khunung esheisu nongchuplamgi meisa khaangbada seisaknaba masing-ga phudoktuna lao-khongba sursingna dominate toukhre/ Restriction leiba filmsing, reastaurantgi cabin, beauty parlour, rock musicnachingba amadi samajbu masak thihnabada ahouba thoudaang louriba lamchat naidaba-naidabi kayasina sahityakaargi ephut oina thoraklabada chingya tamya pumnamaksu thak-kha onnaba drisha ngakta urak-le/
Mapanthong-gi meetyengdadi Manipur developing country amagi ma-ngaal ujarabasu kharadang-ga hakchinna yenglabadi nomadic tribesing-gi statustagi pangwaang-waangkhataba civilization amagi shaktam lotlamba urakkani/ Leiton saru paandabana panghai haibra haibadusu tin yot-thaduna khanthaba chang-e/
Eikhoi mee-oibasi eikhoi eikhoigi samajda hek pokpadagi eroinaduna laaklaba enaatki phijet-chaakcha, laininglon, dharma, houna-lonchat, yumbaal-lonnachingba leijaribasigi chatnabi pankhei waangmada leiba eikhoida khwaidagi henna impressive oiba atoppa khunnai amagi influential natureda meehougalli, makhoigi alochanabu eikhoi eikhoigi samajgi punshida paansinduna matou tamgalli/ Tamba haibasimakti chaokhatpa a-onba paamba meeoibana masha inkhakchanabagi eshwarna pibirakpa mamal naidraba gunni/ Aduga tamlibani haiduna mapaanthing-gi outstanding character kharada matou maan-naba khutsemgi turina pangyet yekpanadi enaatki cultureda amadi naharolgi moralityda maksillaba, leikha tana maangsillaklaba shaktam kaya akoibagi ethilgi saaphuda will power laan-na sijinnakhraba khunnaisida apang-thouna ut-thokpa ngambagi manaa oina khudol tambirakpada karamna latnapham thokpage?***
Of course, I’m nearly halfway through the article. I’ll do the remaining tomorrow. It’s because when I started this it was nearly 11.30 pm. Now, I want some time for my daily reads.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Tomorrow again
It was nearly midnight when I finished eating my dinner! So, I’ve to put off the posting of the text (of Sharmila’s 10 years old article) tomorrow again.
There is something terribly wrong with my time management.
I’m sorry for this postponement.
There is something terribly wrong with my time management.
I’m sorry for this postponement.
Monday, January 08, 2007
A collector's item!
Somehow, I could not find time to go through the old article by Irom Sharmila, let alone typing out the transliterated text. May be, I’m living through a curse of the God of small things! So many small things to mind. It was already 3.30 in the afternoon when I finished having my lunch.
I’ll publish the text tomorrow.
And here is the story of how I stumbled upon a 10-yrears old newspaper.
I’ve this huge desk. At this moment, I’m typing this out right on that desk. This desk can accommodate my monitor, processor tower, UPS and my speakers and still having space for the keyboard and the mouse!
As befitting the desk, there is this big drawer at the right side when I sit facing my computer. As long as I can remember it, this drawer remained locked and I did not have any idea where the key was. It was only some months back that the key in question materialized out of blue.
I still remembered the day when I used the rusty key to open the creaky drawer. To my disappointment it was jam packed with old newspapers.
For months now, I’ve been using the old newspapers to wrap up fish innards and fruit peels!
The particular newspaper in question is Huiyen Lanpao.
I know that the brand Huiyen Lanpao was sold to a new group. I doubt that the transaction did cover the archival materials of the newspaper. There is this likelihood that all the old copies of the paper are in disarray and rotting in some dank corners of a godown. The only other reliable place where it would have been stored properly was the Central Library. But it was also burnt down.
All these point to the fact that I had stumbled upon a collector’s item!
But, still, I’ll publish the text tomorrow.
I’ll publish the text tomorrow.
And here is the story of how I stumbled upon a 10-yrears old newspaper.
I’ve this huge desk. At this moment, I’m typing this out right on that desk. This desk can accommodate my monitor, processor tower, UPS and my speakers and still having space for the keyboard and the mouse!
As befitting the desk, there is this big drawer at the right side when I sit facing my computer. As long as I can remember it, this drawer remained locked and I did not have any idea where the key was. It was only some months back that the key in question materialized out of blue.
I still remembered the day when I used the rusty key to open the creaky drawer. To my disappointment it was jam packed with old newspapers.
For months now, I’ve been using the old newspapers to wrap up fish innards and fruit peels!
The particular newspaper in question is Huiyen Lanpao.
I know that the brand Huiyen Lanpao was sold to a new group. I doubt that the transaction did cover the archival materials of the newspaper. There is this likelihood that all the old copies of the paper are in disarray and rotting in some dank corners of a godown. The only other reliable place where it would have been stored properly was the Central Library. But it was also burnt down.
All these point to the fact that I had stumbled upon a collector’s item!
But, still, I’ll publish the text tomorrow.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
What did I find today?
I was having my breakfast of nuts, papaya, passion fruit and green tea.
To peel the papaya, I just grabbed an old newspaper so that the peels did not clutter my table. I had no time for eating on a plate!
As I was half way through my portion of the papaya, I noticed that I was peeling the papaya right on top of a women’s column of the old newspaper. Looking down to the end of the article, I was startled to find that the writer was Irom Sharmila.
I quickly brushed off the peels and made it dry putting there in the sunshine and safely stored in my locker.
It was a 10 years old newspaper!
I think it needs to be told how I stumbled upon a ten years old newspaper. I’ll do it tomorrow. Right now I’m so in a hurry.
Today, I did not even get the time the quick reading of the article. Tomorrow I’ll decide whether to publish a translation of the article. Should I publish the article verbatim?
Besides, I’ll publish a scanned image of the whole page when I get some time to do that.
To peel the papaya, I just grabbed an old newspaper so that the peels did not clutter my table. I had no time for eating on a plate!
As I was half way through my portion of the papaya, I noticed that I was peeling the papaya right on top of a women’s column of the old newspaper. Looking down to the end of the article, I was startled to find that the writer was Irom Sharmila.
I quickly brushed off the peels and made it dry putting there in the sunshine and safely stored in my locker.
It was a 10 years old newspaper!
I think it needs to be told how I stumbled upon a ten years old newspaper. I’ll do it tomorrow. Right now I’m so in a hurry.
Today, I did not even get the time the quick reading of the article. Tomorrow I’ll decide whether to publish a translation of the article. Should I publish the article verbatim?
Besides, I’ll publish a scanned image of the whole page when I get some time to do that.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Dichotomy
Today I was so full of running errands for the constructions of my annex. So much so that I had absolutely no time to cook my lunch. So, I let one of my sisters invite me for lunch!
This is an easy way out. But I’m convinced that I should not do this frequently. My living alone should not be an extra burden to anybody. My sisters have their own families to mind and I should not be an extra to them either.
I had been to a stone crushing plant near Mantripukhri. Nothing particular about this plant. I went there to pay some advance money for getting stone chips for reinforced concrete. Apparently so much construction going in and around Imphal that anybody wanting to get stone chips should be in queue for some days. There is this dichotomy in our society. One face of it is that there is so much unemployment that it is sought to be directly linked to the ugly appearance of insurgency in the State. Another facet is that there is so much demand for construction materials that we have to be in queue for buying them!
I cannot make head or tail of this dichotomy.
This is an easy way out. But I’m convinced that I should not do this frequently. My living alone should not be an extra burden to anybody. My sisters have their own families to mind and I should not be an extra to them either.
I had been to a stone crushing plant near Mantripukhri. Nothing particular about this plant. I went there to pay some advance money for getting stone chips for reinforced concrete. Apparently so much construction going in and around Imphal that anybody wanting to get stone chips should be in queue for some days. There is this dichotomy in our society. One face of it is that there is so much unemployment that it is sought to be directly linked to the ugly appearance of insurgency in the State. Another facet is that there is so much demand for construction materials that we have to be in queue for buying them!
I cannot make head or tail of this dichotomy.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Exhausted
When my blog fails to appear in the blogosphere, it can be reasonably assumed that there must be power outrages in Keisampat area, at least! In short, my blog will continue to be a function of the power outrages in Keisampat area until I upgrade to bigger capacity UPS or until I buy a generator.
I got electricity at around 5 in the evening after missing it for one full day today and another full day and night of the previous day. It must be straight 40 hours without electricity. It must be worst than in Baghdad, which is a straightforward war zone. Worse than a war zone!!
I’m exhausted in running errands for buying knick knacks for the ongoing construction of my annex.
Yesterday also, after running so many errands, it was already 1 pm when I started preparation for cooking my lunch. And, as the luck has it, I ran out of cooking gas in the middle of the making of my lunch. I had to rush to the furniture workshop and quickly collected wood scraps and burned them to finish cooking my lunch. Good that I’ve got a rent paying workshop in my premises!
I had to wait for a friend apropos a previously scheduled meeting in my house but he never came. Waiting for him and for the workmen to cease work for the day, it was already 6 in the evening. Only then I started looking a cooking gas refill in the black. At my first try, the price quoted was Rs 500/-! Several attempts, I managed to get one for Rs 420/- but it was already 8 at night when I reached home with the gas cylinder. I was totally exhausted.
I’m still not fully recovered from yesterday’s exhaustion.
I got electricity at around 5 in the evening after missing it for one full day today and another full day and night of the previous day. It must be straight 40 hours without electricity. It must be worst than in Baghdad, which is a straightforward war zone. Worse than a war zone!!
I’m exhausted in running errands for buying knick knacks for the ongoing construction of my annex.
Yesterday also, after running so many errands, it was already 1 pm when I started preparation for cooking my lunch. And, as the luck has it, I ran out of cooking gas in the middle of the making of my lunch. I had to rush to the furniture workshop and quickly collected wood scraps and burned them to finish cooking my lunch. Good that I’ve got a rent paying workshop in my premises!
I had to wait for a friend apropos a previously scheduled meeting in my house but he never came. Waiting for him and for the workmen to cease work for the day, it was already 6 in the evening. Only then I started looking a cooking gas refill in the black. At my first try, the price quoted was Rs 500/-! Several attempts, I managed to get one for Rs 420/- but it was already 8 at night when I reached home with the gas cylinder. I was totally exhausted.
I’m still not fully recovered from yesterday’s exhaustion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)