On Calamity & Courage

British Historian, Victor Kiernam wrote that active involvement in the present can develop the right sense of touch for the past is a true one, but so is the converse,

British Historian, Victor Kiernam wrote that active involvement in the present can develop the right sense of touch for the past is a true one, but so is the converse, that only familiarity with the past can impart the right touch for the present. We cannot act on things gone by, but they continue to act on us, and the past and present combine to make the future. A distinguished historian, Victor had special interest in South Asia and Indian history. What could be timelier then releasing the Indian edition of Belinda Morse’s Calamity & Courage: A Heroine of the Raj, in the April month of Manipur?  The book was released on April 20 by the Governor of Manipur, in the presence of the author. Though the book’s first edition was released in 2008, the second edition has a greater significance as it is being released in Manipur; the very place where the historical events took place. Alongside, April is the month that witnessed the epoch making event of the Anglo-Manipur war that took place in 1891. The tiny kingdom of Manipur lost its sovereignty to the hands of British India. Popularly known as the Khongjom War, it was the deciding battle fought between Manipur and Queen-Empress’ army. The war paved way for effective control of the kingdom by the British. Every year April 23 is observed as the ‘Khongjom Day’ as tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives fighting for Manipur.

The writer puts on record, in her forward, that Ethel Grimwood’s My Three Years in Manipur, has been her inspiration for writing the book. She realised that “nothing can equal her own first-hand account of her ordeal”.   Victorian artist John Hanson Walker was the writer’s great-grandfather. A portrait of a lady painted by the artist that hangs in her house kindled in her a quest to know more about the lady. The lady was none other than Ethel Grimwood, wife of Frank Grimwood who was the then political agent of British India, stationed in Manipur. Who would not know of My Three Years in Manipur, and of course, the Grimwood husband and wife, in Manipur? The book and its author have been able to reside in the historical imagination of the readers of Manipur. Historical references from the book has been cited by scholars of modern Manipuri history repeatedly. Therefore, for readers who have been intimate with My Three Years in Manipur, would have an uncanny feeling of reading the same book while reading Calamity & Courage. Almost every chapters of the book has immensely been faithful to the personal accounts of Mrs Grimwood, which is inevitable while writing a biography of the lady. Yet, the writer gives us more insights by weaving in from sources like The Times, records from the British Library, Letters and Journals of Queen Victoria, Illustrated London News and other rare documents. A Manipuri historian or a scholar would have found it difficult to get access to the kind of references that the writer has managed to use. Chapter five onwards, the writer grippingly steers us more on the life of Mrs Grimwood, after her ordeal in Manipur and her remaining life in England and America. Tales of Ethel and her second marriage to Andrew Cornwall Miller, of Ethel ‘teaching music for a living’, inventing a new persona for herself as ‘Evelyn Miller’; and the gloomy dusk of Ethel’s life suffering from ‘toxic psychosis’. Needless to say, Belinda Morse has gone through an arduous research to write the book. She had personally come to Manipur in 2006 following Ethel’s footsteps. The turmoil which she read about Manipur from the headlines of Imphal Free Press saddens her.  We would say, till today there has been not much change. But the historical juncture where we stand together, cutting across the political boundary and the continental distance, as citizens of the world have drastically changed. Reiterating Victor Kiernam’s, the present can develop a right sense of touch for the past, the present and past combine should make a future – a common future. We truly acknowledge the calmness and courage of Belinda Morse, in her and in her work.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/on-calamity-courage/

Man knocked down at Jiribam

JIRIBAM, April 20: A man was knocked down by a Tata truck near his residence at Dibong Sanakhong today. The victim has been identified as L Babuloo Singh, 35, son

JIRIBAM, April 20: A man was knocked down by a Tata truck near his residence at Dibong Sanakhong today.

The victim has been identified as L Babuloo Singh, 35, son of L Kuramdhon.

The body was handed over by the Jiri Police to the family after post mortem was conducted at CHC, Jiribam.

However, there has been no report of the seizure of the vehicle till the filing of this report.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/man-knocked-down-at-jiribam/

CNPO happy with BRTF`s progress of road construction

CHANDEL, April, 20: Ever since construction/improvement work of the road stretch from Pallel- Sugnu- Chakpikarong was handed over to 82 Road Construction Company (GREF)/BRTF sometime in July 2010, people of

CHANDEL, April, 20: Ever since construction/improvement work of the road stretch from Pallel- Sugnu- Chakpikarong was handed over to 82 Road Construction Company (GREF)/BRTF sometime in July 2010, people of Chandel, have been longing and interestingly waiting to see the day when construction works would start in the hope of getting a world class road.

Notwithstanding the fact that BRTF in spite of their hard work, has taken too much time in getting the final sanction of the road from the ministry concerned, the people of Chandel continue to find delight in the proposal.

A visit of a team of the Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organisation along with the media to the work site on April 19 has found out much to the surprise and satisfaction of the team that three bull dozers have been utilized to complete fresh cutting and levelling of 800m with 12m breadth with Malangbang as 0 km.

The officials told the team that a target has been set to complete the new road before onset of monsoon after which they will set a new target for a new site.

Later while briefing media, president of CNPO Ws Kanral Anal pointed out that black topping of the road from Pallel-Chandel-Sugnu-Chakpikarong was the most urgent work that has to be prioritized to complete before the onset of monsoon so as to avoid difficulty and inconveniences due to the deplorable road condition.

He appealed to the concerned authority to expedite the land acquisition process which has hindered progress of the construction work.

Expressing his desire for effective functioning of the district administration, he said that the Mini Secretariat at DC complex be inaugurated.

Inauguration of the secretariat will accommodate office to all HODs thus making normal and functioning of the departments that will facilitate better working atmosphere and cases of HODs functioning in Imphal could be stopped, he added.

He also highlighted the grievances faced by the subscribers and users of BSNL and Airtel mobile services in the district which according to him got frequently disrupted and disconnected. He also pointed out that the voltage of electricity in the town is very low thereby  getting dim light; he further highlighted the problems of drinking water supply in the town area.

In this regard, he has appealed to the entire department concerned for immediate attention.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/cnpo-happy-with-brtfs-progress-of-road-construction/

KEDO observes 7th foundation day

IMPHAL, April 20: The Kanglei Economic Development Organization (KEDO) observed its 7th foundation day at Khwairamband Nupi Keithel No. 2 (Emoinu Ima Keithel) on Sunday. Speaking on the function, DIG

IMPHAL, April 20: The Kanglei Economic Development Organization (KEDO) observed its 7th foundation day at Khwairamband Nupi Keithel No. 2 (Emoinu Ima Keithel) on Sunday.

Speaking on the function, DIG Range-1, IK Muivah attending as the chief guest of the function said that the service provided by KEDO for the people is laudable.

He further lauded the organisation for the initiatives, it has taken up to improve the socio-economic development of the state.

During the function, director IPR, Wangkheimayum Rajen Singh said that the role of KEDO is immense and has helped in minimising the unemployment problem in the state.

Delivering the key-note address, the general secretary of KEDO, E Bhorot said that KEDO was established with the aim of generating employment avenues in the state and to help the indigenous people.

He encouraged people to produce the daily requirements of the state and added that several non-locals have snatched away various jobs from the indigenous population of the state.

He also said that people should be hardworking and try to get any kind of job for developing socio economic conditions of the state.  

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/kedo-observes-7th-foundation-day/

PLA cadre arrested

IMPHAL, April 20: The Public Relation Officer, IGAR (s) has said in a press release that a PLA cadre was apprehended by troops of 22 Assam Rifles under the aegis

IMPHAL, April 20: The Public Relation Officer, IGAR (s) has said in a press release that a PLA cadre was apprehended by troops of 22 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (SOUTH) during an operation in general area of Wabagai Yangbi yesterday.

The apprehendee has been identified as Naorem Komol Singh alias Linthoingamba, 44, son of N Leibaklokpa Singh,  resident of Wabagai Yangbi, Chandel. He was handed over to Kakching Police Station, the PRO said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/pla-cadre-arrested/

Enamoured by girl, boy uploads doctored pictures

IMPHAL, April 20: In a shocking incident, a 20 year old has been arrested for allegedly uploading doctored pictures of a girl on the internet using a fake account so

IMPHAL, April 20: In a shocking incident, a 20 year old has been arrested for allegedly uploading doctored pictures of a girl on the internet using a fake account so as to ward off other perspective proposals.

A sit in protest was held at the Thoubal Mela Ground on Sunday decrying the incident by womenfolk demanding punishment of the accused according to the law.

A JAC was also formed in connection with the incident during a meeting held at Thoubal Achouba in presence of local club members Saturday afternoon.

Father of the girl told media persons that 20-year-old Kongrailatpam Dusmanta Sharma of Thoubal had uploaded doctored pictures of his daughter, a student of Evergreen Flower School, on the internet.

He said his daughter was informed about the pictures by a cousin brother.

On searching the internet they found the doctored pictures of the girl under a fake account, he said.

On April 14, he had made a written complaint to the Thoubal police, and the accused was pulled up the same day, he said.

The police had taken into custody a laptop and a mobile phone used in editing the pictures, he continued.

The same day, he had confessed to doctoring the pictures and had said that he was attracted to the girl and just wanted to ward off other boys, the girl’s father told media persons.

The boy was produced before the CJM Thoubal on April 15 and had been remanded to police custody for seven days.

The boy will be appearing again before the court on April 22, he said.

Meanwhile, the JAC submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister on the issue and warned of various forms of agitation in case the government failed to take proper action.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/enamoured-by-girl-boy-uploads-doctored-pictures/

Indian Democracy, Electoral Process and Manipur: Is there any connection? – KanglaOnline

Indian Democracy, Electoral Process and Manipur: Is there any connection?KanglaOnlineThe ongoing elections for the Indian Parliament have just been completed, except for the counting and announcement of results thereof, in so far as Manipur is concerne…

Indian Democracy, Electoral Process and Manipur: Is there any connection?
KanglaOnline
The ongoing elections for the Indian Parliament have just been completed, except for the counting and announcement of results thereof, in so far as Manipur is concerned. It has been almost like a province-wide randomised experiment to observe and test

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNH5acovMDhJrZZiSIPsVJ4ZhV346g&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=kQNVU4DnMbT98AG2-wE&url=http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/indian-democracy-electoral-process-and-manipur-is-there-any-connection/

2 protesters killed in demonstrations – Republica

2 protesters killed in demonstrationsRepublicaProtests galore over rapes in Manipur. BENUP BHATTARAI. 2 protesters killed in demonstrations. ILAM, April 20: Nepali speaking people in eastern Indian state of Manipur have taken to streets protesting the …

2 protesters killed in demonstrations
Republica
Protests galore over rapes in Manipur. BENUP BHATTARAI. 2 protesters killed in demonstrations. ILAM, April 20: Nepali speaking people in eastern Indian state of Manipur have taken to streets protesting the recent rapes on girls from their community.

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNG8g-XzrGPp0VjYVMe5ZYTUF8VDgw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=ObZUU6D3NsT38AG6aA&url=http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=73189

Inner Manipur poll official suspended – Times of India

Inner Manipur poll official suspendedTimes of IndiaIMPHAL: The presiding officer of a polling station in Thoubal assembly segment of the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency was suspended after the booth was found to have polled two votes more than the…

Inner Manipur poll official suspended
Times of India
IMPHAL: The presiding officer of a polling station in Thoubal assembly segment of the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency was suspended after the booth was found to have polled two votes more than the total number of registered voters in the electoral …
Manipur repoll tomorrowAssam Tribune
31/1 Moijing re-poll on April 22KanglaOnline

all 10 news articles »

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGeu7ettd2CNuJGznx-ktDrrdTFCg&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778477192119&ei=IWNWU4jtPITA8gHFLA&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Education/News/Inner-Manipur-poll-official-suspended/articleshow/33986988.cms