I GAM KHANTOUHNA DIA POIMOH MASAPEN

This is an article I wrote in my language on the importance of roads.

I GAM KHANTOUHNA DIA POIMOH MASAPEN
-Joy Tonsing

I gam khantouhna din bang poimoh nasa pen a? Sixth Schedule mo? MLA politics? Kei ngaihdan in tuh i gam, adiakin singtang gam khantouhna’ng a poimoh masapen tuh lampi ahi. Lampi pentak gam khantouhna’ng in poimoh pen thepthup kenteh na chi maithei. Ngaihtuah thak mah dih. Lampi hoih omna munte khangtou hulhul mai hi. Na kiim na kiang daakvel mah dih. Lampi hoihlou a gam khangtou/changkang na mu din ka gingta kei.

I gam a lampite puahpha adiakin I hinna gui uh (lifeline) Guite Road bang hong hoih leh i gam in a phattuampih didan na ngaihtuah ngei hia? Lampi a hoih chiang in i gam a thil piangte zuakkhiakna bang hong baihlam dia, hiai in louneimite thanopna tunsak ding hi. Kisumdawntuahna (trade and commerce) hong khangtou ding hi. Huaiban ah government nasemte (teacher, doctor leh adangdangte) ten Lamka apat gal sep nawnlou in a sepna mun ua pai a lin nawn kei di uh. Tamtak te a nasepna ua a pai utlouhna uh pen lampi hoihlouh mahmah ziak hidi’n a gintaak huai. Lampi hoihna ah government nasemte posting ut zo ua, hiai in administration hoihsak tuan mahmah hi. Government teacher te a posting namun ua a pai chiang un singtang a i school te un gah hon suang dia, i gam ah laisiam hong pung ding hi. Sum neilou pipi a Lamka a tate school kaisak a ngai nawnkei dia, hiai in sum-le-pai haksatna hon dawn zangkhai tuan mahmah ding hi. Lampi hoihleh niteng van poimoh tuamtuam bang nuamtak in Lamka apat singtang kipotung thei ding a, singtang gam changkang sak tuan mahmah din gintak huai. Huaiban ah gari accident chihte bang hong tawm deuh dia, khualzin-gamvakte adin nuamtuam mahmah ding hi. Lamka toh kikawmtuahna hong nuam dia, damlouh-hitan tuah hun in kintak in damdawi inn naihthei ta di uhi. Lampi hong hoih chiang in Thanlon SDO office bangle Lamkanuai a omnawnlou dia, government teacher ten le correspondence a sem nawnlou ding uh ahi! Lampi hong hoih photphot leh adang ten zo hon zui mai di ahi.

Atung apat a lampi hoihleh i gam in a phattuampih dia muhthei khenkhatte:

1. Kisumdawntuahna (trade and commerce) hong hoih ding
2. Government nasemte a sepna mun ua pai di ua, administration hong hoih ding. Government nasemte a posting na chiat a hong om chiang un govt. in i gam hon puah maidi ahi.
3. Singtang apan a hithei teng Lamka kidenna chihpen a tawm deuh ding, tulai a i buaipih mahmah delimitation chih khawng bangle hiai ziak mahmah le ahi.
4. Gari accident a si chihte a tawm deuh ding.
5. Singtang a i school te kingakna tham hong hi dia, i gam ah cost-effective education omta ding hi. I gam ah laisiam hong pung ding hi.

Economist Robert Chambers in 1970s lai in hichiin ana gen, “If I had money, I would use it to build roads. If I had more money, I would build more roads. If I had still more money, I would still build more roads.”

Biased Report on Mail Today

Druglords prey on N-E girls to act as peddlers

The following is a mail I sent to the author of this article as I am really pained to see Northeastern girls being portrayed in such a way. You can see my feelings from the contents of the mail:

Dear Kumar Vikram,

I am writing to you in relation to your biased report against the Northeastern girls in your article on Mail Today dated 28th January, 2008.

While appreciating the fact that you have highlighted the illegal drug trade going on in the capital, it is unbecoming of your profession to generalize and portray people belonging to a particular region or community in such a bad light. While it may certainly be true that some Northeastern girls may have fallen prey to these druglords and easy money, it is ridiculous to portray the whole community in such despicable terms. There is no doubt that some northeastern girls are involved in this trade, but portraying the whole community in such a bad light is difficult to understand. You know there is a black sheep in every community. The Northeasterners in general and Northeastern girls in particular have always been looked upon in contempt and in a bad light, and people always have a biased attitude and pre-conceived notion against them.
You see, supposing I go to the infamous GB Road in Delhi and there I found many North Indian girls indulging in flesh trade and the next day I write an article in a national paper portraying the North Indian girls in the same light as you portray Northeastern girls in your article , what would be your reaction? What would be the reaction of the people of Delhi?. Now you can imagine how much you have hurt our sentiments. I have always believed that the media should be the champion of the cause of the minorities, the downtrodden and the neglected. But your article have cast some doubts on the role the media is playing for/against the Northeasterners, and I am not alone. I am highlighting to you the sentiments of my fellow Northeasterners when they read your article. Mr Kumar, it hurts!

Hoihnu Hauzel, a reputed journalist from Manipur and a person whom i truly admire for her writings (though I haven't had the opportunity to meet her in person) replies:

Letter to Mail Today

Dear Kumar Vikram,

I have always believed that media, to a great extent, is responsible for the way Northeast women are wrongly projected in a place like Delhi. And your yesterday's article "Druglords prey on N-E girls to act as peddles," once again proved just that.

While I have no doubt in your facts and intentions, I am quite upset at the tone of the article. It is upsetting and hurtful beyond words the way you have carelessly yet confidently projected the tribe in your story.

It's even more difficult to imagine that you could begin with words like: "The next time a cocaine addict in Delhi order for a fix, it's unlikely than tan African man will be standing at the door. Instead, it'll probably be a young, trendy Northeast Indian girl. And for a few extra thousands, she'll put sex on offer as well."

And it ends in the same tone: "And the person ringing the bell in all probability will be a no eastern girl."

Are you sure that all of them are from the region? And how many of them are into the trade? I am not writing to you to defend or justify anything. I am writing to you because you have hurt our sentiments. But, for the crime of one, you cannot generalize the entire community. And that's exactly what your article has done. Does Maninder Pal Singh Kohli's (prime suspect in the rape and murder of British teenager Hannah Foster) crime make every Indian a criminal?

As a fellow journalist and someone who comes from one of the states of Northeast India, I am deeply hurt at the way you have chosen to deal with an issue like this. It is derogatory and insensitive to many women like me from the region who have left their homes to build a career. While it may not be your intention to generalize the community, I feel you have been extremely careless and tactless in your choice of words.

Also, it would have really authenticated your story if you have the name or identity of those accused instead of merely basing your story on one unnamed police officer. A.S Cheema merely commented that it is a new trend.

And why do you thrive on the miseries of the region which is typically what the Indian press in doing. Why don't you write the positive stories? Look around; there are many positive stories on the region that can be done from the city.

It is a pity that mainland India has so little or no knowledge of the Northeast India. I have spent half my life here in Delhi and even after living here for more than 15 years I am still fighting a biased attitude from people. People like you who should be actually educating the mass, make it worse for us.

And anyone with "small eyes" or the term people so loved to use "chinky" are not necessarily from the Northeast. You must understand that India has Mongoloid race even from other states like Ladakh and Sikkim (which is the eight states of the region). The city also has a good population of Tibetans and Nepalis.

I will appreciate your response. And this is not to discourage you but to let you know that we, as a community of journalist, ought to be more sensitive when dealing with such issues.

Warm regards,

Hoihnu Hauzel

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.