Meanwhile, Imphal west police commando arrested an active KYKL cadre, Laishram Sanahan Singh, 27, son of L Ibungou of Loitang Leikinthabi from the area at around noon today. On spot verification, he disclosed that he was working in the finance section, under the command of s/s captain Tompok alias Dinesh.
 

By Wangkhemcha Chingtamlen
The Kangleipak Historical Cultural Research Centre, Imphal

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Fried fish, chicken soup a Premiere show

Green Globe Foundation Awards 2012 for CRED

City-based NGO Centre for Research on Environmental Development (CRED) has won the Green Globe Foundation Awards for Outstanding Contribution by an NGO for the year 2012. The Award function took place at the Taj Palace, New Delhi on the 2nd of February, 2012. The Green Globe for Outstanding Contribution by an NGO seeks to applaud the noble efforts of organizations like Centre for Research on Environmental Development, CRED who are equipped with a short supply of resources, NGOs who perform selfless work at the grass root level on critical issues of environmental degradation, generating mass awareness on pollution-related issues, mobilizing local communities in sustained high-pitched campaigns, engaging in legal activism through public interest litigation, thus forming the very backbone of the green movement in the country.

Green Globe Foundation Awards 2012 for CRED

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CHEITHAROL KUMBABA: THE ROYAL CHRONICLE OF MANIPUR

Book launch – “Cheitharol Kumbaba: The Royal Chronicle of Manipur”

4 February 2012, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network India International Centre had jointly organized Manipur – Past And Present: Panel Discussion Book Launch “Cheitharol Kumbaba: The Royal Chronicle Of Manipur” written by Shri Nepram Bihari at Conference Room No 1, India International Centre 40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi on 30 January 2012.

Smt Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, Member of Parliament, was the Chief Guest of the event, Mr. B G Verghese, renowned writer, chaired the event, Shri Pradyot Deb Burman, Head of Royal House of Tripura and Editor, The Northeast Today was the Guest of Honour of the event and esteemed panellists of the event include Dr.Aparna Basu, Professor, Delhi University(retired), Ms. Priyanka Thakur, Lecturer, Delhi University.

The “Cheitharol Kumbaba: The Royal Chronicle of Manipur” is a monumental work covering the history of Manipur, right upto the modern period. Providing a detailed month-by-month record of the rule of no less than 76 Kings, it is a formidable reference history of this colourful State, which continues to remain in turmoil. The subject covers every aspect of Manipur and throws much light on relation with neighbouring areas.

According to Shri O.N. Shrivastava, Former Governor, Nagaland   Manipur, “Dealing chronologically with the life, times and event during the reign of 76 kings-from lord Pakhangba (33 A.D.) to Maharajah Bodhchandra(1955 A.D.) it is by any standard an exhaustive compilation, replete with footnotes, glossary, references and agreements including the one between Maharaja Bodhchandra and government of India. The book fills a historic void and needs to be valued as integral to the continuing cultural freedom of our country. The author by translating Manipur’s history from the Meitei script into English has made almost 2000 years of developments in Manipur available to the global reader”.

Author: Shri Nepram Bihari

Mr B G Verghese, renowned writer who  chaired the session and gave a welcome address and said that the Northeast India was rich in indigenous chronicles which dates back 2000 years back like the “Cheitharol Kumbaba” (Manipur), “Rajmala” (Tripura) etc. which were not taught as history as they should be. He suggested that eminent historians addressed the issue to the historical congress to start a discussion of Northeast history and let those books be brought forward.

Shri (Dr) Kapila Vatsyayan, Honourable Member of Parliament, addressed that she was there to talk about Manipur and its importance. And added Manipur was an important state of India having rich tradition and culture. She talked about the bonfire of religious manuscript .And added that those were the records of Manipuri History and its religion and that eventually led Manipuri people to adopt Vaishnavism culture. She addressed that the work taken by Shri Nepram Bihari was important to highlight the necessity of eminent scholars to find solutions and truth.

Shri Nepram Bihari, Writer “Cheitharol Kumbaba: The Royal Chronicle of Manipur” said, “With due obeisance to the Almighty on this important occasion of “Discussion of Past and Present of Manipur with book launch of “Cheitharol Kumbaba(the Royal Chronicle of Manipur)”, I consider myself supremely fortunate to make my dream a reality by launching a traditional history book. Thinking- past history  of ancient people should be a lesson for the present generation and also for enabling people of other races could understand the  culture, custom, foreign and internal development policy.  This book is a record of past event dealing on political, economic, social revolution sectors, on foreign relation with neighbouring countries.”

Shri Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, Head of the Royal House of Tripura stated that the history of Northeast was very little known to the rest of the world but also within northeast India region. And called upon several Northeast state to start exploring history of their neighbours order to understand each other better. He said that Manipur was always been close to him since his grandmother was from Manipur.

Dr Aparna Basu, Lecturer, Delhi University(retired) addressed that “Cheitharol Kumbaba” was like a dairy of the then kings of Manipur for their achievements, politics, diplomacy and lifestyles which majorly emphasised on 18th , 19th and  20th  century. She said that it would be a good source to know more about Manipur and its culture and tradition which was not much known to the rest of the world.

Ms Priyanka Thakur Lecturer, Delhi University said Manipur remained as periphery of history and have not been discovered and discussed much. She said the main reason of it would be the lack of sources and the way the history of such area had been interpreted. She said that the book gave a new way to look at Manipur and its culture.

The event was ended successfully with meaningful notes and views from the panel as well as from the participants. Most of the panel agreed that the history of Northeast India is till little known to mainland India as well as within the Northeast India itself and suggested that it is high time for Northeast people to start including its history in shortened version in NCERT syllabus as it is lacking it as well as to start research and documentation of history of their neighbouring states.

For more information, interviews etc. please contact:

Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network
Email: binalakshmi AT gmail.com

B 5/146, First Floor, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi- 110029,
Website: www.cafi-online.org   Phone: 011- 46018541, Fax: +91-11-26166234 

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Ms Wajed, accompanied by her sister, Sheikh Rehana and an over 100-strong delegation including including External Affairs Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, some more ministers, businessmen and intellectuals, they were received at Agartala Airport by Minister of Human Resources and Development Kapil Sibal and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

“As we touched down at Agartala airport last evening, a flush of emotions overwhelmed me as I recalled the tremendous sacrifices during our glorious struggle for independence,” said Ms Wajed, in a voice choked with emotion, after receiving the degree of from Vice President of India Hamid Ansari at Agartala on 12 January 2012. Fondly recalling the help Tripura had extended during 1971 Liberation War spearheaded by her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she further said, switching to Bengali, “I express my deep gratitude to the people of Tripura who gave us food, shelter and clothing and care when the people of our country were subject of inhuman and barbaric torture in the hands of Pakistani Army and migrated to this land…I was further amazed when I came to know that before this university was set up, this place was a training camp of the Bangladesh liberation soldiers”.

Earlier, addressing the India-Bangladesh Business Meet jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Ms Hasina appealed to the business community of India’s Northeast to cash in on the investment friendly atmosphere in her country. Her announcement of a major path-breaking step of Bangladesh government deciding to offer access to Chittagong and Mongla sea ports for better business ties with Indian businessmen and that use of Ashuganj port is just a step away, was very well-received.

Noting that the there is a huge potential of Indian investment in Bangladesh in IT, power and healthcare, Ms. Hasina said, “Political will is there to carry forward the bilateral ties and the business community of both sides must strive to catch the opportunities”. Laying emphasis on solving all pending bilateral issues including water sharing through discussion, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said, “India being a big country must come forward with an open heart to solve all the outstanding bilateral issues. We do expect India to show more sensibility in resolving all pending issues”.

The third India-Pakistan war during December 1971 was historically significant as it liberated erstwhile Bengali East Pakistan from decades of oppression by the ruling military government of West Pakistan culminating in horrific genocide by Pakistan army and created the new nation, Bangladesh. On 25 March 1971, the liberation war was launched by the Mukti Bahini, as Pakistani soldiers aided by local collaborators, had reportedly killed an estimated 3 million people, raped 200,000 women and forced millions of people to flee to India.

Eventually, when Pakistan sparked off the war on December 3, 1971, it took only 13 days for India Army to encircle East Pakistan. On December 16, 1971, Pakistan’s eastern army commander signed the instrument of surrender at Dhaka, as 93,000 Pakistan armed forces personnel surrendered to Indian Army all over what got declared as the newly born nation of Bangladesh.

The year 2011 was marked by extended celebrations in Bangladesh, for one of which it invited 17 Indian veterans of that war, in December 2011. Simultaneously Headquaters, Eastern Command, Kolkata hosted three serving Bangladesh Army officers, 22 Mukti Joddhas (Mukti Bahini veterans) and Indian armed forces veterans, including. Bangladesh Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Shaukat Ali, former Eastern Command chief of staff Lt. Gen. (retd.) J.F.R. Jacob, former Indian Army chief and Member of Parliament, Gen. (retd.) Shankar Roychowdhury.

16 December, instituted as Vijay Divas after the 1999 Kargil war, was observed in New Delhi by the Defence Minister and the three Services Chiefs laying wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti under the arch of India Gate. Whereas India Gate is a memorial made by the British to honour the memory of Indian Army soldiers killed in World War I, in Kolkata, Dhaka and many other military stations in India and Bangladesh, Vijay Divas was celebrated befittingly at larger scales, with tributes paid at many other memorials. Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, VrC, who headed the Indian war veterans delegation to Bangladesh, speaking to this writer said: “ We visited two National War Memorials and we were told that there were many more in the districts where major battles were fought. This is in stark contrast to our own country where we are yet to have a National War memorial for soldiers who died in all the wars that we have fought since Independence. They also have a War Museum which we visited which has well documented accounts of the war of liberation but mostly of their own Mukti Bahini.”

In this war Maj Gen Cardozo, 4/5 Gorkha Rifles, who got his leg blown up in a minefield, amputated it himself with a khukhri since there was no medical aid available. The visit is best described by him and Col SS Chowdhry, SM, who also interacted with this writer.

Col Chowdhry: “The 6 days trip was exhilarating, nostalgic… with very warm hospitality and touching gratitude. The President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, State Minister, Ministry of Liberation War and the three Services Chiefs took turns to host the delegtion. Plenty of visits to various battle locations, meeting old Mukti Bahini Joddhas and many delightful cultural programs made the six days seem too short. Over all, it was a great once in a lifetime experience”.

Maj Gen Cardozo further elaborated: “The Government of Bangladesh and its armed forces went out of their way to treat us as their honoured guests…they have a lot of love and regard for the Indian Government and its people….Mrs. Indira Gandhi is held in great respect and reverence for her courage and the manner she led India during those troubled times and the way she came to the rescue of a beleaguered neighbor….I was asked to address various gatherings and I said that forty years ago India and the people of what is now Bangladesh and their fearless Mukti Bahini shared a common destiny- for them to free their beloved country from the stranglehold of West Pakistan and of India to help a friend achieve that aim. I recalled that many sacrifices were made by Indian soldiers and Mukti Bahini and it was on the altar of these sacrifices that freedom was won in a brief war of thirteen days-just as well-before the US or China could interfere and before the UN could enforce a ceasefire….Great battles were fought by the
Indian soldiers and the Mukti Bahini shoulder to shoulder and by the Indian Navy and Air Force. The Mukti Bahini were a great force as was evident by the damage done at Chittagong and Khulna ports by Indian Naval commandoes and the Mukti Bahini frogmen….Wherever we went we were told by strangers that without India’s help the liberation would never have happened so quickly and the sacrifice by the Indian armed forces was greatly appreciated…..We attended a reception hosted by the President of Bangladesh and this was an occasion where the Prime Minister was able to personally thank us for all that we did so many years ago”.

The ceremonies at Kolkata included solemn tributes at Vijay Smarak to those martyred in the war, an all-faith prayer meeting was organised at the venue while two helicopters showered rose petals on the martyr’s column and the release of ‘Race to Dhaka ’, a pictorial book depicting the 1971 Bangladesh liberation. “Our defeat in the Chinese war had downed the morale not only of the forces but also of the whole country. But this victory enabled India to stand firmly and confidently on her feet. Since then we are totally confident,” said Gen Roychowdhury. Mr. Shaukat Ali praised India for its efforts and said his country will always remain grateful for the gesture. “India stood beside us for humanity. We shall always remember this gesture… I would give 100 percent credit to India for the liberation of Bangladesh. We gained Independence but India fought for it. Can this contribution be belittled’” said Ali. “We are grateful to India since 1971 and we will continue to be so. The Indian army stood beside us and together we marched to victory and independence,” said Ashrafdaula, a Mukti Joddha who lost one of his legs in the war. A five day cultural fest held at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission at Kolkata saw renowned cultural artistes from both sides of the border regaling audiences. Apart from the classic Bengali folk music to rock music, the guests also savoured delicious Bangladeshi cuisine. “Podda Illish”, the famous Hilsa fish from the Padma River has always been acclaimed as far tastier than its Hoogly counterpart.

GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh conveyed to this writer that the interaction between the Indian and Bangladeshi veterans and serving officers covering tactical details about this war was indeed professionally beneficial.

In May 2011, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA, New Delhi) and Bangladesh Heritage Foundation (Dhaka) held a three day dialogue in Tripura which holds special significance with reference to the events of December 1971 and the Bangladesh Liberation War. As is well known, the first Bangladesh government in exile was formed in Agartala, apart from the first Bangladesh Radio office being set up there.The Bangladeshi delegation expressed their gratitude about the sacrifice that India and Indian soldiers made to ensure independence of Bangladesh and also reminisced the importance of Tripura in that historic event. The delegation visited the Bharat-Bangladesh Maitree Udyan park, Chottakhola, Belonia, a border town 130 kms from Agartala and one of the base camps of the Mukti Bahini, from where they launched the war against Pakistani troops in Noakhali, Feni and parts of Comilla districts. A museum showcasing the arms and ammunitions used in the war, photographs, literature and newspapers from that period has been planned.

With all that Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government has done to renew and revive old ties severely damaged by the pro-Pakistan Bangladesh Nationalist Party during its tenure, particularly against terrorism, New Delhi must maintain the momentum of cooperation in all fields for mutual benefit, especially Bangladesh and India’s North Eastern region.

SCKEPTICALLY: There are also possibilities of the son to be a member of the UFO. That is when the son is happy riding a bicycle, with the hair tied unruffled at the occiput. A missing black uniform regrettably prevented that stamp too. Yet, the appearance still summons speculation of whether the son has puritanical position on religion. When did hair and moustache become religious motif? We don’t know. Sardarji brethren do have a unique pattern of religious ‘appearance’, which is unparalleled. But as far as we know, the valley dwellers do not have sam and koi regulation like them in a very strict sense. One can be a believer of the pre Vaisnavite faith with or without it. The son wearing all white entering a sankirtan maandop, with the emblematic chandon on the nose to offer a bhakti has a beauty in itself. Of course with the long hair and koi, the palla would not miss a snooping glance while prostrating. Does the son look like an UFO Vaisnavite to him? Please ask them.

SOCIAL DEBT: With the current season crowded with marriage and nahut- nareng, the son is also honored to be invited by friends to such ceremonies. Friends who cannot meet often get an opportunity to mingle around. Some friends would comment that the son’s hair and koi looks perfect on him. Even much better than any other look. They would suggest him not to cut it anymore. Some friends would conjure up watts of surprise that they failed to recognize him. What a way the son has changed. Two other friends, who are considered as champion of all sensibilities (they remained unchallenged till date) shared their piece of priceless gyan to the son. Without sounding diplomatic or overtly wise, though they are, they declared that the son should cut his hair. They professed that the son should consider their resolution keeping into consideration of the family members. Some friends also shared their intellectual skepticism with the son. They would inquire whether their friend has taken any vow within the rubric of a personal nirvana. Or is it a creative representation of an idea demanding an academic investigation. Is it a de-constructionist idea of a hair stylization? The elder members of the family who hosted the ceremony also shared their pangs of identity conflict. They did not recognize the son who used to frequent their residence since the college and school days. They said they would fail to greet him if they happen to meet on the road.

NOT IN THE END: Number of long hair is a minority in the town. More so with moustache and goatee included, complimented by a Humber cycle. The minority is not endangered in any way; they share a healthy camaraderie with their peer group. Those who are not known to each other, by name or anything, they would exchange a fleeting look. Greeting with unsaid words: hello, comrade! And for those who are familiar with each other, they would share hairy wisdom. The kind of shampoo they use, which are the best conditioning available, kinds of hairband which are sympathetic to the hair. Is dandruff a problem? How to cope with the hair fall? Female folks would envy their wisdom. Where have all the poets and lyricist gone who used to portray the beauty of long hair with exuberance? Why are they silent? We long to hear from you.

FOOTNOTE: the dream of a shopping mall over an old school, RDS, has been put to a halt by an order. Leipung Ningthou reminds, “bhaap ki dolaan toina saganu, lairik ningthina tammu”.

Some highlights of the mad moments are really worth sharing: with daily reports of bombs and IEDs being planted here, there and everywhere, it was practical for me to have a template to fill in every day. All I would do before I left for home would be to sit down with the crime beat journalist and have him list out a) bombs found in (where, when and at whose residence/locality) b) IEDs found in (where, when and at whose residence/locality) and c) hand grenades found in (where, when and at whose residence/locality). My template was designed in the exact manner and all I had to fill in were the names of the persons and places. Morbid? Insensitive? It saved me time though. In any case, how different can one write about bombs being found in an almost routine manner every day?

One must make a note for the kind of weird bit of ‘news’ that came in. Someone from another newspaper called to ask us at IFP whether we had heard an ISTV news that some 200 crore rupees had been seized from the CM. We went into a tail-spin trying to verify the news and probably ended up adding on to the wild goose chase. After things sobered down, it turned out that a national news channel had done a story about the assets and income declaration of sitting MLAs contesting the elections while questioning the small amount declared by the CM. So the confirmed news wasn’t much news in the end! The other bit of news that cracked us all at the desk was an incident of a bomb blast that left two poor dogs killed.

On the reporting beat, there isn’t much fun in press meets and press conferences. The media is supposed to sit through patiently and hear all allegations and at the end of the session be bombarded with requests for “more space” and “can you make this the lead news?” They make you feel so damn uncomfortable acting as if their lives depended on how much space their news would appear the next day and in which part of the page! I also have issues with how ISTV cameras always pan on journalists at press conferences. Normally news channels don’t take camera shots of the journalists but take visuals of the people speaking at the press meets. I don’t think for one second that journalists need to be in the picture at all or that they are more important than the reason for which the press conferences are being held, no matter how mundane or boring it turns out to be. But ISTV seems to have some sort of fixation for the local journalists at press conferences.

There is another complexity that a journalist or reporter faces in his/her social interactions. I have faced many instances where I am not in my “reporting” mind frame while speaking to government officials or employees who happen to be either friends or acquaintances. Simple questions of asking over issues of being dissatisfied with their work or even a query on what they are up to in terms of their work are almost met with suspicious answers. Most often, they clam up and one ends up trying to explain that you are NOT digging for a story. Isn’t it normal to ask about any one else in their social circles how work is going for them?

End-point:
And then there’s this other story. When election took place on January 28, we went scurrying all over the place following what was happening around us. The day ended for me at the RIMS morgue where the bodies of the election polling personnel at the Tampi polling and firing incident were being brought in. A rookie photographer called me with great concern and asked me: “should I take a bath since I have entered the morgue?” The question left me stumped at first but later I realized where his concern came from. As a society where a lot of things are considered taboo and “impure”, his concern was genuine. But, how could I decide what he should do once he got home? So I did the best thing under the circumstances and told him that I don’t think twice of being around dead bodies. But the ultimate twist to election- day was IFP could not hit the news-stands the next day: the generator had given up on us! All efforts up in smoke!

Manipur has remained under the stranglehold of abusive armed groups and inept politicians. In each election, the armed groups – and there are many, with a range of political demands, though they are mostly extortion gangs – have called for a boycott of the polls. Those who participate, candidates and voters alike, risk violent attacks.

Things are so bad that earlier this month, all newspapers in Manipur published a blank editorial, in response to threats from armed groups that insist that the newspapers publish their statements. Newspapers face a double whammy: some militants have also demanded that they not publish statements of rival groups.

In the hope that an elected government will finally do its job, that of providing security and upholding fundamental rights, Manipuris have ignored the threats and turned out to vote. Yet, the government has failed to ensure even the most basic rights of life and liberty. Armed groups aside, Manipuris remain at risk of arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings by the government`s own security forces.

The state government and local administration have also failed to address grievances that feed public discontent and support for militant groups. All of these problems are made worse, though, by Manipur`s climate of impunity. The Central government, while claiming to be committed to protecting human rights, has largely ignored serious violations by its security forces, at best attributing abuses to a few “bad apples”. But even in cases involving “bad apples”, the government rarely investigates, let alone prosecutes those responsible. Manipuris want impunity to end. Not only has it shattered any existing faith in the justice system, many feel it has emboldened the security forces to commit further abuses. Impunity, fostered both by a lack of political will and by laws shielding the abusers, has led to an atmosphere in which security forces are effectively above the law.

The lack of accountability has become deeply rooted because of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the 1958 emergency law under which the armed forces are deployed in internal conflicts and enjoy broad powers to arrest, search and shoot to kill. The law is widely despised among the population because it provides soldiers who commit atrocities effective immunity from prosecution.

When the Central government isn`t ignoring Manipur, it tries to sweep Manipur`s problems under the carpet. In December, the police in Delhi went so far as to refuse permission for a solidarity protest to support a decade-long hunger fast by Irom Sharmila, who has demanded the repeal of the AFSPA ever since soldiers gunned down 10 civilians in Manipur on November 2, 2000. She is nasally force-fed in judicial custody.

The AFSPA has led to abuses and serious hardships in other parts of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, the repeal of the law has become a crucial election issue. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has spoken out against it.

But in Manipur, where the law has been in force much longer, political leaders have found neither voice nor wisdom. Irom Sharmila may have become known for her courage and her peaceful endeavour in India and beyond, but in Manipur`s capital, Imphal, the government has ignored her appeal. Instead, Manipuris remain hostage to an Army that claims it cannot operate without the powers and immunity provided by the AFSPA.

Hardly anyone in Manipur disputes that armed groups pose a serious security risk. Last year, two militant groups successfully imposed a three-month economic blockade on the surface supply of goods, crippling the economy and pushing prices out of control. Manipuris want law enforcement, but without human rights abuses or a blank cheque for the security services. The Army`s several decades of deployment in Manipur have not only resulted in widespread abuses but polarised the situation. The Army is damaging its reputation in India and abroad by insisting on protecting perpetrators of human rights abuses.

In 2004, following widespread anger over the custodial killing of a suspect, Manorama Devi, by the Assam Rifles, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Imphal with a promise to review the AFSPA. The review committee – and several other experts since then – recommended repeal of the law. The Army opposes repeal. Now halfway through his second term, Dr Singh has been unable to prevail over his divided Cabinet to deliver on the promise. Manipur erupts into national news only when the rage brings Manipuris out onto the streets. The Central government takes notice when the Assembly building is burnt down, elderly women strip and invite the Army to rape them as they have raped others, prices become ridiculously high due to weeks of blockade or when mothers and schoolchildren engage in weeks of demonstrations. It should not take such drama for the government to wake up to the problems in this corner of the Northeast.

(Courtesy:Asian Age. The writer is the South Asia director at Human Rights Watch)
 

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