SOS: Mautaam Kialpi

In a small hamlet in the interiors of Lamka (Churachandpur) District, Manipur, a family of five is having lunch, sharing among themselves whatever meager amount of food they had. The smallest among the three siblings, aged four, obviously unaware of the hardships they are going through, utters, “Papa, why haven’t you get me any Christmas gift this year?” He looks at his wife and three children, wipes a silent tear and mutters to himself, “How long will our meager stock of rice last?”. He thinks about his better-off relatives who had migrated to Lamka. Deep down, he silently hopes for help to arrive from them.

In Lamka, a daily wage earner glances through the morning paper, Lamka Post, before setting off for another gruelling day at work when a headline catches his eye, “Help Your Fellow Zomis in Need, Contribute in Cash or Kind” . He opens his “savings box”, counts the meager savings he made for the purchase of the much-needed inverter (you all know without my telling you the quantity of power supply we get in Lamka) and heads towards the Mautaam Relief office. The inverter can wait for another year, the plight of his fellow Zomis in the villages is much more acute.

In New Delhi, a government servant is woken up by an early morning telephone call from a Mautaam Relief representative entreating him to contribute towards helping the victims of Mautaam Kialpi. He heads towards the bank, transferred his savings meant to buy a computer to the Mautaam Relief Fund and heads towards North Block. The computer can wait, however necessary it may have become in today’s world, he couldn’t turn a deaf ear to the cries of his brethren back home.

In Bangalore, a call centre executive is about to sleep for the day after her shift ended at 5:00 am in the morning when her Nokia N73 makes a beeping sound. She grabs her mobile and reads the SMS on Mautaam forwarded by her friend in Gurgaon. She calls up her broker, instructs him that she wants to redeem/sell her mutual fund units and dozes off to sleep. When the money is credited to her account, she will contribute towards the Mautaam Relief Fund. What does it matter if she can’t go for her weekly shopping and hangout with her friends at the most happening joints in the city. What better way of unwinding than helping those who are in distress.

In Mumbai, an executive working in a reputed multinational checks his e-mail on his laptop before setting off for another hectic day at work. He quickly glances through the mass e-mail seeking monetary contributions towards Mautaam Kialpi. He logs on to his internet banking account, and clicks on the ‘Transact’ button to contribute towards the cause. He had slogged during his IIM days, landed his dream job at this large multinational and saved diligently to buy that dream home. But that can wait for some time, God has put him in this position today to help his fellow Zomis in their hour of need.

Reams of paper and bits and bytes of web space have been used to write about the dreaded Mautaam, which rears its ugly head on Lamka District and the neighbouring Mizoram state. The Mizos have their own state, a government run by their own people and they are ready to face the challenges posed by the threat. We, the Zomis, cannot afford that luxury. We are in a much more depressing situation. Should we wait for the government to bail us out of our predicament? I don’t think so. We can no longer remain a mere spectator to this. We must do whatever is in our power to help our fellow brethren while the government is doing its bid. Will we turn a blind eye to the sufferings of our people, or a deaf ear to their cries of the innocent and helpless children in hunger?

This is a conscience call to all Zomis, whether living in Lamka or London, from a government servant to a call centre executive to help their fellow Zomis in this time of need. It may be a small amount, the price of a bottle of beer or a movie ticket, your contribution today can save the life of a fellow Zomi, dying of hunger, just for another day. You all know the saying, “Little drops of water, little drops of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land.”

For those of you who want to contribute, whatever be the amount, towards Mautaam Relief, a website http://www.mautaam.org/ has already been set up by like-minded individuals with a view to helping their fellow Zomis in their times of need. The recommended mode of contribution is by bank transfer to:

Account No.11343809077, State Bank of IndiaChurachandpur Branch - 6182

Operated by Shri H.PauchinlianDorcas Veng, New Lamka, Manipur.

For people living in and around Delhi donation in cash can be made to the following persons:
1) Shri T Kamzalian, NABARD (Cell: 9910982456)

2) Shri Kamkhenthang Guite, M/o DONER (Cell: 9868934337)

3) Shri Kamsuanthang, MHA (Cell: 9968270231)

4) Shri Haumuanlun Samte (Cell: 9891418402)

5) Shri N.T.Khankhup (Cell: 9958340949)

6) Shri L.T.Ngaihte, MEA (Cell: 9811211941)

Email: mautaam@googlegroups.com

Profile of (L) T.Gwite, IPS

THANGZAMANG @ T. Gwite MA IPS, 69

Born : February 7,1938 Monday 9 pm, Thanlon
Exp : September 15, 2007 Sat 5 pm at AIIMS, N.Delhi, heart attack;
buried at Lamkatung cemetery 17.9.2007 Mon
Father : Khamkhopau Guite d. 27.5.1959 Wedn 4 pm, Thanlon
Mother : Ningzaniang (Hangsing Tanu)
Married : Aichhung (Guite tanu) d/o Thangluai on 5.8.68 Mon, Imphal
Children : Son 1 daughters 2 Grands females 2: Chinlawmsang, Chhungthianmawi
Education
Cl. I- V- ME School, Thanlon 1949-53
VI- X- Churachand High School, Imphal 1954-58
IA- DM College, Imphal 1960
BA- St. Edmund’s College, Shillong 1962
MA (Eng Lit)- Allahabab University 1966
Indian Police Services (IPS) 1973

Works

Teacher, Christian High School, Churachand Mission Comp 1963
Founder Member and Teacher, Churachandpur Model English School (later JN Model High School), Lamka 1963
Lecturer, CCPur College, Lamka 1966-67
Lecturer, DM College, Imphal 1968-73
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, UP 1975-76
Superintendent of Police (SP), Agra 1977-81
Asst Director (Intelligent Bureau, IB), Delhi, Kohima, Imphal 1982-90
Deputy Director of IB, New Delhi 1990-97
Joint Director (IB, North East), Shillong 1997- 1.12.2001
Retired 31.12.2001 Mon
Chairman, Manipur Public Service Commission 1.3.2003-04
Awarded Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Services 1990
Abstract Paintings exhibited at Shillong 31.10.2001 Wed
Patron Member, SSPP Hq
Involved in installation of Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Trombay; Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd, Bangalore;
Defence Research & Dev Org, Hyderabad; ONGC, Space Launching etc.
Moved to Mualveng, Lamka 1964; to Tribal Colony, Imphal 1968; to Paite Veng, Imphal 2002

Author

Buh Ka Duhlai (Translation, 1963)
Khoching Nu Khivui (2003)
Pitu Hoih Hindan Hoih (2005)
Our Thanlon Times (2007, in Press)

Brothers and sisters

Manzen, w/o Kamkhanthang Guite
Chingkhovung, w/o Dr V. Vungkhokam
Chinkhosiam, Inspector of Police (Rtd) h/o Zenngaihching (Tombing tanu)
Hangzagin SRO, h/o Rebecca Niangngaihchin (Valte tanu), Accountant/AG, Imphal

Sons and daughters

Mary Lawmngaihching, RBI Officer, Guwahati, w/o T. Mangminthang, IPS, Director, P & T NE Cirl
Florence Nianghoihlun, Management expert, Dallas, USA
Paukhanmung Gwite, SO/AG Office, Guwahati

Personality

Meticulous, honest, elegant, sartorial finesse, impressionistic painter, lover of color and design.

Went to Delhi with family members on 9.9.2007 enroute to Dallas, USA to depart from Delhi on 16.9.2007 flight to attend the marriage ceremony of their 2nd daughter. He felt uneasy in the chest at about 3 pm on 15.9.2007 at Delhi and was rushed to AIIMS where he was declared dead due to heart attack at 5 pm on the same day. His mortal remain was brought to Imphal on 16.9.2007, spent overnight at his residence at Paite Veng, Imphal and buried at Lamkatung Cemetry on Monday, 17.9.2007 .

What Freedom Means to Zomis

For the villager doing jhum cultivation, freedom is going to his field everydaywwithout the fear of tripping over landmines

For parents, freedom is the absence of fear of their daughters being raped or their sons being beaten up or shot at by “unidentified elements”.

For the shopkeeper and vegetable vendor, freedom is the ability to ply his trade without the fear of bandhs wreaking havoc on their business

For the outstation student, freedom is enjoying his holidays without bandhs shortening his already too short holiday

For the common man, freedom is roaming the streets of Lamka without the fear of being caught in the midst of gunshots

For the office goer, freedom is going to office without fear of being mugged and threatened

For a government official, freedom is discharging his duties without undue disturbance from unscrupulous elements

For the rich, freedom is enjoying his riches without the fear of being kidnapped for ransom money

For a student appearing in HSLC exams freedom is the ability to write whatever he has crammed up without the fear of answer papers being insufficient!

Any more inputs from readers will be welcome.

Chak De

Yeah I know I am late. And this ain't a review of the movie either. You know I ain't a Bollywood fan. In fact, the only Hindi movies I truly enjoyed were the Munnabhai series 'Munnabha MBBS' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'. The plot of the movie, you probably already know about it.

As I said, I haven't watched the movie 'Chak De India' but when I heard that there were two North-eastern girls in the movie, my curiosity get the better of me. No, no I haven't gone to watch the movie after that, but I started 'googling' 'Mizo girl in Chak De' and 'Manipur girl in Chak De' and I just want to share what I found out as a result.

The Girls:

Chonchon Zimik, 24

Manipur

On field: Molly

Position: Left Half (back)

Jersey No. 6

How I was picked: A fashion design student from IITC, Pune, Zimik’s friend recommended her to a casting agent from Yashraj Films. ‘‘I was called for an audition. It was a hilarious experience because I was asked to say some fighting dialogues in Hindi. I don't speak Hindi well so the entire effect was rather comic. But I guess it worked.

The best and the worst: I trained for three months and I am happy that I can now play our national sport. Waking up at 4:30 am everyday for three months was the tough bit!SRK moment: I’m clumsy and I was always getting into a spot. Shah Rukh always laughed at that and I can never forget that smile and that twinkle in his eye when he would look at me.

Next move: Post film, I was slightly confused. But I’ll be realistic, I am not exactly what Bollywood is looking for. I work in Mumbai in a fashion designing workshop and will stick to fashion designing. But if there is a good role in a film that deals with the North-East or my state, then I am game for it.

Chak de means: Victory!

Lalhming Kimi, 20

Mizoram

On field: Mary

Position: Defender

How I was picked: A goalkeeper in her state team, her game and a great voice got her the role.

The best and the worst: Hockey came easy to her.

Next Move: Kimi is all set to graduate from player to coach—she’s pursuing a diploma in hockey coaching from Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala

The talented hockey duo from the North East. Their school books taught them that they are Indians but Indians taught them otherwise. The only reason they play for the National team is that it is the only National team they can play for. They would love to belong but not to the team that calls them 'foreign', and definitely not to the people that call them 'loose'. So they stick together and play. For the love of the game and the honour of their people.

Kudos to the girls. We are really proud of you.

And maybe I will watch the movie now, after all!

Where the mind is without fear

The other day dad called me from home (Lamka) and said that there was a bomb blast the night before near Churachandpur police station leaving one person dead and two injured. I was like well that's nothing new, it happens all the time out there. There was not even a feeling of surprise or shock within me. Was it because I was still asleep when I heard the news and my mind was not clear at the time? I don't think so. News of gunshots, murders, kidnappings, etc doesn't shock anyone anymore. People have accepted these things as a part of life. In fact, they are even more surprised when a day goes by without any news of gunshots, murders or kidnappings.

A decade or so ago, Lamka was known as a peaceful town-where different communities live in peace and harmony. But then things take a different turn. The first time I heard a gunshot was when I was still a little kid. I don't remember the exact year but it was in the early 1990s. In the middle of the night I was awoken by loud gunshots. I was scared out of my wits and I was like "When will those bullets hit me and rip my body apart?" The gunshots sounded as if fired right in front of our house. I remember praying frantically for divine intervention. The next morning we heard that the shootings took place at Saikot, on the outskirts of Lamka town. As I grew older and Lamka became a hotbed of terrorism, I became less and less bothered by these things. I have become less sensitive. In fact, during the Kuki-Zomi ethnic clashes in the late 1990s gunshots can be heard every now and then. Barely a day pass by without the sound of gunshots or the sight of a village burnt down. During those days, we used to joke with friends "Last night there was no gunshot so I couldn't sleep well". Well, every Lamkan have become insensitised. Is it because we have less compassion towards our fellow beings? Are we less humane? I think not. It is just that we have accepted these things as a way of life and that is what Lamka has become. In fact, I have heard many people saying, "There is no killing, gunshot, murder or kidnapping in today's newspaper, it is not worth reading". Is this what we have become? We don't even want to read the paper if there was no news of killings, gunshots, kidnappings or the like. Even after 60 years of independence we, the Zomis are still far, far away from Rabindranath Tagore's ideal of freedom. Sigh! What curse have befallen my land and my people. Let me conclude with Rabindranath Tagore's famous poem

Where The Mind is Without Fear

WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-Rabindranath Tagore