June 20, 2015 – Manipur News

Peacetime Wars

By the turn of the next generation, the Manipur society probably will be further segmented along a new class system, all this thanks to the government’s management of its education

By the turn of the next generation, the Manipur society probably will be further segmented along a new class system, all this thanks to the government’s management of its education responsibilities. We must add here that in the school sector, the government is making some valiant and imaginative interventions, and we wish it all success. We hope it is able to make similar interventions in the college sector too soon. Till such a time, we can foresee at least three new classes emerging. Purportedly standing on the top of the hierarchy would be by and large young job seekers whose parents have accumulated enough wealth by whatever means for their children to inherit. In the second tier would be those who have had education in schools outside the state or else private schools in the state, therefore at an advantage in competitions for professional courses such as medicine, engineering etc. Three, will constitute those who have been unfortunate to be condemned to study in the state’s many non-functional government schools and colleges. The third understandably will be in the majority. It is everybody’s knowledge today that there is something very rotten in the government schools and colleges of the state. Yet there is so much vested interests in the status quo, that no radical reform has been possible ever. It is sad but true that there cannot be a bigger testimony of the abject failure of social engineering in the state than in its inability to salvage the collapse of its school and college education systems.

The fallouts are obvious. In what may be described as a domino effect, the fall of the school system has also meant a cloud over higher education as well. Many of the state’s colleges have potential, and a few of them actually used to command awesome academic reputations in the entire Northeast in the past. Many among the men and women of the 1960s generations, who have earned themselves social respect and station not just in Manipur, but also in neighbouring Nagaland and Mizoram, it is not a surprise, have had their higher education in DM College. However, there has been a steady decline, partly because of bad management of the institutions themselves, together with corrupt government recruitment processes which have seldom kept merit the criterion. If an enquiry were to be done today, it will not at all be a surprise at all to find even fake Ph.Ds have been allowed in the competition for lecturers’ posts. But the reason also has been overwhelmingly because the feeder institutions to these colleges – our government schools – have not groomed students fit enough to pursue quality higher studies meaningfully. Thanks to this, today, the number of degree holders who are not capable even of grasping the fundamentals behind the working of the judiciary, legislature, executive etc, would amaze anybody. These degree holders have no option but to look for government jobs for it is here the degree and not the skill of the man holding it matters. In the private sector, they will have to fend for themselves and prove their competitive worth always, and unlike in the government cocoon their degrees are no guarantee for either success or job security. What we want today are young men and women who can with confidence stand up to be tested by the fire of open competition, and for whom job avenues are open both in the government and the private sectors, as well as the unexplored territories of entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, this goal still seems illusory.

These are serious issues, much more serious than the worry over which minister gets which portfolio, or who bags which government contract job etc. In the long run, the ability to tackle these issues will surely be the answer to many of our larger, vexing issues. The familiar tactics of those in power when faced with these uneasy questions is to shift the blame to insurgency. We would even go to the extent of reversing this logic to say the failure of governance on these fronts have been a strong factor, although not the only factor, behind the endemic bad law and order situation. The time has come for a serious rethink. Let all realize that even in war, it is the bounden duty of all, but especially the government, to ensure that at the end of the war there will be some things of quality left in the devastated landscape to rebuild the society from.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/peacetime-wars-2/

Not Easy Not Too Tough: The Manipur Chapter – KanglaOnline

Not Easy Not Too Tough: The Manipur ChapterKanglaOnlineI chuckle to myself re membering the optimistic ambition in me when one day I sat till midnight to make the roadmap, weeks before I descended in Manipur to roll out my global campaign on educating …

Not Easy Not Too Tough: The Manipur Chapter
KanglaOnline
I chuckle to myself re membering the optimistic ambition in me when one day I sat till midnight to make the roadmap, weeks before I descended in Manipur to roll out my global campaign on educating women about their bodies and menstruation. I had …

Not Easy Not Too Tough: The Manipur Chapter

By Urmila Chanam I chuckle to myself re membering the optimistic ambition in me when one day I sat till midnight to make the roadmap, weeks before I descended in

By Urmila Chanam
I chuckle to myself re membering the optimistic ambition in me when one day I sat till midnight to make the roadmap, weeks before I descended in Manipur to roll out my global campaign on educating women about their bodies and menstruation.

I had several local NGOs and individual partners and a host of journalist friends based in Manipur which/who were keen to help me put my foot on the ground and do my thing. That made me confident as I drew into the map small red pins on locations spanning across four districts and five major halts in the state.

When I finally took the flight to Manipur and walked out of the arrivals in Tulihal Airport, I was met with my family with hugs, kisses and tears of reunion and a strange feeling in the deep recesses of my mind that told me, it was not going to be easy.

I also felt this would be a life changing experience.

My understanding of my home state was to be of little consequence to what would soon unfold in the next 30 days of working in Manipur. Everything I understood about my native so far was soon going for a re-alignment- some for the bad and mostly for the good.

My first day of work in Manipur was a wet, slightly cold and pleasant day in April this year in a village/leikai called Khabam Makha Leikai in Imphal West District. It was raining cats and dogs and I worried if people would turn up. Being always conscious to not get late in reaching the field site, I generally aim to reach two hours before the programme that helps me get acquainted with the terrain, community, surroundings, my own team and our arrangements for the training, refreshment or toilet facilities for the participants.

On this particular day, I was not sure about my course of action. One one hand, I wanted to be just the way I have been with my field team in the other eight states I work in the country- coordinating every minute detail over the phone beginning from the wee hours of the morning while on the other hand, my mind was telling me to slow down- the culture here was so different.

I listened to my heart and took the back seat that day, completely relying on my local implementation partner and seeking the opportunity to observe how things worked here. I tried to not get involved in being responsible for all the aspects of the day. This was very unsettling to me.

My biggest learning in Manipur is that when people work together very little words are spoken and silence means acceptance, respect and agreement. In the many parts of the country and overseas, silence could mean hostility, non-cooperation and plain disagreement. What a difference, you see!

Suggestions, plans, instructions are met with silence and a gap in understanding that silence could easily result in conflict in implementation but I learnt this difference fast and chose to move on to the next apparent difference. Thank God, I did not use an abundance of words here.

When I landed on site, there was the huge playground of Ibemcha Girl’s High School and the community hall to choose from for holding the in-tent trainings for girls and women. The leikai locality people were asked to help with setting up the place and young and old men in good numbers came out of their house to erect the tent, put the chairs, arrange the carpets and the likes. Few of them rushed to their homes to fetch a stapler for holding the chart papers on the tarpaulin walls of the tent, few got ropes, still few others got other kind of items to make the place ready for the day. In no time where there had been no one, I was taken aback to see so many helping hands.

The only question asked to us was why were we doing this program and who would be the participants. No one asked for our credentials and identity. This was not a land of permits, requests for approval, brand building or marketing. Just an honest intent was of immense value here.

The second learning for me was to find such community cohesiveness, helpfulness and resourcefulness vested in each person in the community. While people who live in Manipur may not even notice the value in this particular trait, for someone who works outside in different cultures this positive quality is called community ownership and community support group system that our strategic and training manuals teach us to try and develop in communities where large interventions of development are to be implemented. Large funds are utilized to develop this quality in the communities that are to receive such projects and programmes with a belief that this is a pre requisite for the success of the intervention.

Manipur, I found, has already got that quality. Can we build systems and processes in this culturally receptive community? Can we choose development projects and programmes that are community owned, community led and community driven over individual or business models and run by the private sector?

Just walking over to the cha-dukaan or the tea shop to hold a casual conversation about the training, the topic and that we were looking out to mobilize all the girls and women in the community to come and benefit from it was sufficient to gather large numbers of girls and women who thronged to the tent from morning till late evening. The volunteers had to organize women in batches so they didn’t have to wait.

This is another take-away for me to understand that the community in Manipur is very closely-knit. While this is a great strength, it could also prove detrimental to implementation if not tread carefully. I made a mental note on this aspect as I looked ahead to the days in front of me in the field.

Okay so the tent was erected. The refreshments had arrived. I could see a good turnout of participants from the small opening of the tent where I was seated. I drank some water. My volunteers were doing a fantastic job of registering women and girls and keeping them engaged. I had only one anxiety. No matter how many trainings I might have given, the initial first few moments are always critical. These are the moments I struggle to break the inhibition, the shyness, the fear, the shame in each girl and woman I open the conversation with. Few communities and groups take an hour, some never quite come out of their shell and some open up in just few minutes of my effort.

Much to my surprise, I found that at KhabamLeikai I did not have to make any efforts to break the shyness or inhibition among women. From the time I started till the time I closed, girls and women bombarded me with queries, concerns, experiences and thoughts. The discussion was so rich and vibrant that I carry the satisfaction of having reached this locality in my campaign and empower women and girls with accurate information of their bodies.

The first woman who came in was accompanied by her adolescent daughter. She told me she used only cloth because she could not afford sanitary pads. While she was talking to me, her heavy gold bangles were making clinking sounds and my gaze went to the amount of ornaments she wore. For a woman spending Rs 30/- on an essential item which will improve her health is still a luxury in this region.

The women and girls waited in spite of the rain for their turn to get inside my tent to receive training. Women who had reached menopause disregarded any advice from volunteers that the training was targeted for girls and women who are menstruating and got in!

I gave individual attention to each and every one I met and found a unique connect with women in Manipur. My understanding of the person, their issues, their perspectives and aspirations got deepened from such a rich interface.

Women are so hungry for information on their bodies, health and periods. The women appear to need this space to discuss sex, family planning, spacing between children, medical termination of pregnancy, menstruation anomalies and their own opinions. There were no side-talks, no shy smiles and no delay in asking what they wanted to know. They spoke freely and they spoke till they finished.

Could this mean women on the whole here have no access to information? Is information of this kind only limited to health and medical practitioners? What is the level of performance of the Accredited Social Health Activists (the ASHAs) and other health outreach workers in the state?

I found the younger girls use sanitary pads and the older women use cotton cloth to absorb menstrual fluid. Several girls and women complained of itchiness, foul smelling white discharge, irregularity in period cycle and being reliant on painkillers for menstrual cramps. A relatively high incidence of medically terminated pregnancies (MTP) or abortion was noticed among married women and low usage of contraceptives by these women. Condoms, married women say, are not very popular in their community. One woman said,

‘I had to get abortions three times in the last two years as we had already had the number of children we wanted. My husband does not use a condom and I don’t know where to find female contraceptives. It has resulted in three unwanted pregnancies!’

The same woman had sever pigmentation on her face and complains of burning sensation in her stomach everyday which keeps her awake through the night.

I also found an alarming high percentage of married women who had their wombs removed. On the slight pretext of a cyst, the women are being advised to remove their womb before it turns cancerous. All these analysis have been done on the basis of the conversation and not based on documents of their medical history.

Why are women being advised to remove their wombs in the first sign of trouble? And what is the underlying cause of these women developing womb-related issues? These are questions that I find immensely interesting and worthy of observation over a period of time.

Few women also said that they never got treated for their concerns or went to a doctor.

“I thought what I was suffering was no big deal and not fatal. I was also anxious what the doctor would think!’

The best part of that day remains the crowd pressing in to enter the tent long after the sun had set and even in pitch darkness owing to load shedding on that particular day. I had to firmly announce the training to be ‘over’ to end the day even when there were many more waiting outside to talk to me. .

KhabamMakhaleikai in Imphal West district in Manipur will always remain close to my heart. As I walk ahead to reach more geographies and religious communities this year, I value my experience and learning that working in Manipur has given me to understand my people, my community better. This new found understanding has given me a deeper love and a firmer resolve to continue my work on educating women and girls in Manipur.

(Urmila Chanam is a consultant of knowledge management in HIV/AIDS working for a multilateral organization, FHI 360, managing a USAID project for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children. She also heads a global campaign ‘Breaking the Silence’ which is about menstrual hygiene management and banishing taboos around menstruation.Arecipient of the National Laadli Award on Gender Sensitivity in 2015, she has been working with agencies like World Pulse (USA), WSSCC (Geneva), Voices of Human Rights (USA), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),World Bank and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). Her singular effort in all her work is to connect with the grass-root and take forward real issues to a platform from where she can influence policy decisions.)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/not-easy-not-too-tough-the-manipur-chapter/

Yoga A Need of the Hour

By Dr. S. Kulachandra Singh Health is Wealth – Health is Happiness : The secret of happiness is excellent health and cordial inter personal relationship with all. There is no

By Dr. S. Kulachandra Singh

Health is Wealth – Health is Happiness :

The secret of happiness is excellent health and cordial inter personal relationship with all. There is no need to explain how essential it is to be healthy. In this modern world one has no time to fall sick and also one cannot afford to be sick, as the management of sick person is becoming very costly.

Sickness is rigorous imprisonment :

When one is sick no doubt the sick person suffers physically, mentally, socially and of course economically. But he is also indirectly responsible for the unhappiness of his close relations and employer. Sickness is a sort of rigorous imprisonment.

Health – Happiness are not commodities :

One must realise health or happiness are not commodities. They cannot be purchased in the market, or can be borrowed from someone. Once state of health is directly related to his life style – namely the diet, exercises, rest he takes and the attitude with which he lives. Medical care – namely – different varieties of medicines. Surgical techniques, vaccinations etc. can prevent certain types of diseases, but they cannot make you healthy. Health is totally an outcome of once living style.

WHO-WARNS

Many years back World Health Organisation had declared Health for all by 2000 AD while India had declared health for all by 1995. For this WHO had guided how to overcome malnutrition, supply clean drinking water, improve personal hygiene, vaccinations and inoculations. Family planning at all. These measures have helped to bring down certain germ oriented diseases. However there are certain Psycho-somatic diseases like Heart attack, Hypertension, Diabetes, Depression, Digestive System diseases are increasing in geometrical proportion and that too in so called educated and rich class of society. WHO has sent a warning to all developing countries especially Asian Countries like – India, that by 2020 to 2040, these countries are going to have diseases like – Coronary Artery diseases, Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer etc. like an epidemic and that too in the age group of 30 to 40. That means those who are now in the age group of 10 to 15 are the likely candidates of this epidemic

Tension Bomb is more dangerous than Nuclear Bomb :

We know that in Second World War when atom bombs were exploded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 5 to 6 lakhs of people died on the spot, and another 3 to 4 lakhs afterwards due to its after effect. But this happened once only. Since then no atomic bomb were exploded, nor there is any likelihood.

But very few are really aware that there is one main reason which is killing billions of people every year all over the World without any distinction of caste or race or religion or nationality, and that is Tension or Stress Bomb. WHO health report says every year fifteen million people die due to stress oriented problems like Heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc. and this figure is going to raise to 4 to 5 times by 2020.

It has been conclusively proud that these diseases are mainly due to faulty life style- namely –

1) Life full of uncontrolled mental tension.

2) Faulty diet – namely diet full of dairy products, Bakery products, Animal products/processed, refined bottled or tinned food and beverages.

3) Increasing vices like tobacco, liquor.

4) Lack of physical exercises, sedentary habits leading to obesity

5) Increasing pollution in Air, Water and Food.

These are called as “RISK” factors.

So, it is obviously one wants to avoid these diseases one has to change his life style from high tension to tranquility, take proper type of food, Exercise, rest and abstain from vices.

Here comes the role of Yoga :

The science of Ashtanga Yoga is the greatest contribution of the ancient Indian culture to humanity. One of the aims of Yogic practice is to understand the mind and discipline it. It helps to develop control over the mind activities and produces on state of Harmony or integration, what is called as Samadhi – a state of balance between body mind – spirit so called ‘I’. This harmony is essential for the health. This harmony which is mainly disturbed by mind actively produces a state called as Vyadhi or Vikshepa or a state of Diseased i.e. Not at ease.

In Yoga this state has been described on feeling of sorrow, weakness nervousness, increase in breathing rate are signs of Vikshepa or what we called as stress. This stress or Vikshepa condition is produced due to the production of negative emotional impulses like Anger, Fear, Anxiety, Frustration, Greed, Jealousy. So basic attempt is needed to stop producing negative emotional impulses, and convert the same into positive emotional pattern like love, friendship, companion, sharing delight and capacity to pardon.

Stress Management through Ashtanga Yoga.

The regular practice of all the yogic procedures of eight fold yoga system namely Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi supported by proper lacto-vegetarian diet, rest and necessary adequate exercises is known to produce perfect balance between body and mind. It has been objectively proved that effect of Asanas, Pranayama, Meditation is to normalize the functions of the body, internal body systems and mind together. It is emphatically stated by Janardana Swami in his book on Yoga.

If one practices Yoga regularly and as per his capacity he is assured of health, happiness and contentment. These claims have been objectively proud by scientific experiments also.

A) Dr. Herbert Benson, cardiologist of Harvard School of Medicine, USA, has proved after decades of experiment that continued practice of Meditation leads to “Relaxation Response characterized by (i) Lowering of pulse rate, breathing rate, reduction in increased blood pressure. (ii) Feeling of well being (iii) Improvement in general body resistance (iv) reducing the speed of Aging. (v) Reduces bad cholesterol level in the blood and improves the immune system.

B) In 1988-89 Dr. Dean Orrish, Cardiologist from California University of America has conclusively proved that combination of Yogic way of life namely change of lifestyle, abstinance from nicotine, proper-cholesterol free vegetarian diet regular exercise reopen the blocked coronary artery from 56 yo 62% within a period of one year. That is Yoga has the power of reversing the disease and it can By-pass the By-pass surgery provided all the above things are done together.

It has been further proved that regular practice of yogic procedures affects at all the levels of life namely physiological, psychological and spiritual.

C) The regular practice of Yogasanas is known to improve the suppleness of spine, mobility of joints, tones and reflex activity of muscles, the envious and lymphatic drainage of internal organs, and overall improves the general body resistance. Yogasanas are not just physical excercises, aimed to increase muscle bulk or power. On the contrary they help to keep the body weight near to normal, improves the flexibility and suppleness of spinal column and joints and endurance of muscle activity. This is very very essential to avoid or postpone degenerative disease of joints.

D) Pranayama is known to improve the breathing capacity developing proper control over mind and strengthen autonomous nervous system and develop proper coordination between conical and autonomous nervous system which ultimately helps to combat stress much more efficiently. In the ancient scriptures it is started.

If one practices Pranayama and other parts of yoga properly one can get rid of all diseases. But if one doesn’t practice any part of Yoga properly it can give rise to all diseases.

Hence, one should learn yoga from an experienced yoga teacher.

E) Asanas and Pramayamas are mainly known to improve the functioning of neuromusculo-grandularaxis the functioning of which is responsible for the internal Homeostasis a natural genternal body resistance.

F) Meditation i.e. to “Live With Attention Without Tension” helps to reduce the production of stress to a great extent and also helps to accept the unavoidable reality.

It is to be kept in mind that the science of Yoga never originated on a Therapy. However, the effect of total yogic living style has been proud to avoid, control and cure certain stress-oriented diseases. This therapy has to be accepted as a style of living. Just practicing same asanas or pranayams sometimes and neglecting other aspects of Yoga won’t do. Remember that only Asanas means not Yoga Therapy, or there are no particular asanas for particular diseases.

The beauty of this Yogic Therapy alias yogic way of living is, it treats the person as a whole. In yoga one does not treat a part of body like neck, back, heart, etc. It takes into account all aspects of living of an individual namely physical exercises, mental attitude, social relationship, spiritual awareness, diet and abstinence from vices. Thus it is a total holistic approach or Art of living. The purpose of this approach is not just to get rid of some diseases but also to improve the personality as a whole and enjoy the jubilant feeling of well being.

One must realize that Yoga Therapy cannot replace conventional medicine completely. However, one should not ignore Yoga Therapy. Both yoga and conventional therapy have to go together. To start with yoga can be introduced as an adjustment to other Therapy. Continued practice of Yoga way of living is known to reduce the need of medicines by 25% to 100% in 6 months to 2 years period. It is known that it can avoid surgical intervention in problems like ischeamic heart disease, backache, sinusitis, Dyspepsia at all. However, one must practice Yoga properly and regularly.

Yoga therapy does not involve mere practice of Yogasana or Pranayama only. One of the most important aspects of Yogic art of living is to follow the precepts of Yama. However one should behave in the society with other. These precepts are Truth, Nonviolence Nonstealing, Non-attachement and Brahmacharya, Control over all the sense organs and at individual level, (leanliness) attitude contentment or witnessing Self study, Self efforts realizsng the ultimate reality and to take proper lacto-vegetarian food.

The aims of these guiding principles are not to being any limitations on the freedom of a person but it helps to make oneself healthy and develop good relationship with others, which is the back bone of good quality of life.

Thus yogic way of living which involves all dimensions of life namely Diet, Exercise, Thoughts, speaking and Acts is a complete Holistic art of living. Stress Management is the by -products.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/yoga-a-need-of-the-hour/

Russia Involves India In Observing 70th Anniversary Of WW II

By Anil Bhat The Embassy of the Russian Federation held a series of events in New Delhi to mark Russia’s victory in The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). which was a

By Anil Bhat

The Embassy of the Russian Federation held a series of events in New Delhi to mark Russia’s victory in The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). which was a major factor for the Allied victory in World War II.

The first event on 24 April 2015 was the inauguration of a five-day film festival, jointly organised by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC) and the Citizens’ Film Forum. Each of the five films beginning with inaugural film The Brest Fortress were excellent productions poignantly portraying the ethos and plight of the Russian people in those years of great suffering.

A pleasant surprise was Russia reaching out to the Indian military to be part of the celebrations in New Delhi and Moscow. While many Indian Army veterans were invited to the events in the capital, the spectacular Victory Day Parade at Moscow’s Red Square included an impressive contingent of Indian Army’s Grenadiers Regiment. The chief guest and guest of honour for the inaugural event were retired Maj Gen GD Bakshi and this writer.

In his welcome address, Fedor Rozovskiy, Director of Russian Centre of Science and Culture, recalled the massive devastion caused to Russia by Hitler’s offensive and the huge loss of 27 million Russian people.

Bakshi, dwelt at length upon the heaviest human toll and massive destruction that the erstwhile Soviet Union underwent in comparison with the alliance partners, and appreciated the important role of the country in saving humanity from fascist menace once and for all.

Sergey Karmalito, Senior Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India, thanked the organisers of the function in commemorating a historical landmark event which changed the destiny of mankind.

This writer lauded the glory achieved by the Red Army and the people of the country through sheer sacrifice and sufferings taking a lead among the allied forces in defeating the Germans, particularly their armour of Panzers with Russian T-34 tanks. He also expressed the need of consistent research in bringing out truths and exploding the myths revolving around global wars.

Vimal Mehta, Honorary Secretary, of Citizens’ Film Forum, underlined the need for more film festivals to educate youth on the consequences of wars and the imperative of containing them for development and progress. Aakshat Sinha, Joint Secretary of Citizens’ Film Forum, moderated the programme.

On 27 April there was a fuction at the RCSC to inaugurate a photo exhibition of the Great Patriotic War, again attended by many Indian military veterans.

On 09 May, the Russian Embassy together with the Embassies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, organised the Great Victory Day celebration at the RCSC. Speaking on that occasion, Russian Ambassador Aexander Kadakin welcomed Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Moscow to attend the Victory Day celebration, saying “Russia highly values and welcomes President P.K. Mukherjee’s participation in the celebrations of our victory in the Great Patriotic War against Nazism (1941-1945). It is a telling gesture towards my country of such a long-time and tested friend, as Mr. Mukherjee, as also a symbol of solidarity of the people of India in grateful remembrance of the 27 million lives my country laid on the altar of the Allied Victory. Russia also cherishes India’s active role in the last World War and the sympathy of the most illustrious founding fathers and all sons and daughters of this great land showed for the heroic efforts of the former S
oviet Union. Both Russia and India stood at the cradle of the United Nations Organization. Amity and affection are the only words to describe our friendship for almost seven decades…”

Following a minute’s silence to honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the war, a video of the Victory Day Parade in Moscow shown. Marching with Russian troops down the Red Square, was a contingent of the Indian army’s Grenadiers Regiment, in ceremonial dress with their distinctive white hackles. An Exhibition of Historical Photos of World War II, Links of Time and “Great Patriotic War in Paintings, Graphics and in Human Destiny” was on display at the RCSC, along with photos from Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

For 70% of arms and of India’s Armed Forces supplied by erstwhile USSR from the late 1960s onwards, its break-up in December 1991 had resulted in major problems of spares for the various systems. Rediscovering their strategic value to each other and renewing the relationship with a major change from buyer-seller to partners in a joint venture, the first significant step was India and Russia signing an agreement in February 1998, to design, develop, manufacture and market BrahMos missiles. Coined as a combination of Brahmaputra and Moscva rivers, this is a versatile supersonic cruise missile system launchable from submarines, ships, aircraft or land, which was successfully accomplished by 2006. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, it is the world’s fastest cruise missile, about three and a half times faster than the American subsonic Harpoon cruise missile.

On 20 January 2004, India’s then defence minister George Fernandes and then visiting Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov signed India’s biggest-ever defence deal with Russia for the purchase of the aircraft-carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, along with deck-based MiG-29K fighter aircraft and other systems, including torpedo tubes, missile systems and artillery guns, all valued then at $1.5 billion (over Rs. 7,000 crores). The agreement was yet another milestone in Indo-Russian defence cooperation. Speaking at the widely attended joint press conference held in the rear lawns of South Block , both Defence Ministers said talks were on to take the buyer-seller relationship to a higher plane that will include joint research and development of military hardware.

However, not much later in 2004, the shrewdly timed Tehelka sting / leak shattered the deals made by the NDA government with Russia and the UPA’s tenure marked a steep nose-dive in decades old Indo-Russian ties.In April 2013,Russia’s displeasure at India awarding multi-billion dollar military contracts to other countries was expressed through Ambassador Kadakin, who reportedly stated to a daily: “We know what gimmicks are used to manipulate deals…Sometimes, terms of tenders are crafted specifically to get the required results.” He also added that his country may not bid for Indian military tenders in the future. Reminding that Russia had stood by India when strictest sanctions were imposed on it after it conducted nuclear tests and acknowledging that India, as “an emerging superpower”, had the right to build defence ties with other countries, he also pointed out that unlike “some newly-acquired partners”, Russia had never hesitated to transfer the most sensitive defence technologies to India. Referring to the
Akula-II nuclear-powered attack submarine leased to India by Russia in 2012, Mr. Kadakin had asked “Name a country that will lease you a nuclear submarine. Will the Americans, the British or the French lease you such a platform?…This is the unique character of our privileged strategic partnership. Your people have to realise this.”

On 14 June 2014, Prime Minister Modi spent a day on board INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov), the largest aircraft carrier inducted into the Indian Navy. Watch this space after his visit to Russia, in July this year.

Insurgency problem will not be solved under BJP rule: Dr Nara

IMPHAL, June 20: The issue of insurgency in the State will not be solved as long the BJP-led NDA Government exist, secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur State

IMPHAL, June 20: The issue of insurgency in the State will not be solved as long the BJP-led NDA Government exist, secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur State Council Dr M Nara said.

He was addressing media persons at the office of CPI, Manipur State at Irawat Bhawan, BT Road today.

Dr Nara claimed the crisis of insurgency has only intensified under the BJP rule, which has created much chaos and unrest in the State.

He further lamented the disapproval of the recommendations of Jeevan Reddy Commission which was instituted to look into the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958.

The NDA government has apparently failed to satisfy the people of North East with its policies and commitments, he said.

Referring to the ambush laid by a combined team of underground outfits on a convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment near Paraolon village in Chandel district on June 4 in which 18 personnel were killed besides injuring scores others, Dr Nara said that villagers of the area were compelled to flee from their homes fearing consequences from the security forces.

Taking into account of the disturbing development in the aftermath of the ambush, the CPI as a responsible political party will organize a special meeting at Rupmahal Theatre tomorrow to discuss the issue at length, he informed.

Expressing discontentment on the State government for failing to come up with prompt measures to stop the villagers from fleeing their homes in fear after the ambush, Dr Nara wondered how the State government does not know vital information of the massive military operation being conducted to flush out underground cadres along the Indo-Myanmar border.

He termed the wide news report published in national media claiming that many cadres of underground outfits were killed in the military operation along the Myanmar border as ‘conflicting reports’.

The order of NDA government to hunt and kill UG cadres along the Indo-Myanmar is a sorry matter, said Dr Nara.

He also said that the assurance given by Prime Minster Narendra Modi to develop North East States would remain only in words.

Spokesperson of CPI Manipur State Council N Mangi who was also present at the press conference said that the enactment of Act East Policy by the Central government has now become Search and Destroy Act without any logic.

He further said that the Centre should not make Manipur as the training centre for Indian forces to learn different kinds of warfare in the name of counter insurgency.

Village authority to expel three accused in gang rape and murder case from locality; police stay off the case

IMPHAL, June 20: The June 4 incident of the alleged gang rape and murder of a minor from Oktang Village will be resolved through the customary law and the final

IMPHAL, June 20: The June 4 incident of the alleged gang rape and murder of a minor from Oktang Village will be resolved through the customary law and the final verdict of the Oktang Village Authority will be announced on June 27, said the village chief BT Achou today.

A team of Centre for Development and the Women Action for Development accompanied by media persons visited the village today in an effort to bring justice to the case.

According to the village chief, he had talked with the Tamenglong police on the phone regarding the incident and informed them that the case would be resolve according to their customary law.

Since then no police have come to investigate into the June 4 incident, he said.

On June 4, Shangrila (name changed) a 17 year old student from Oktang Village in Tamenglong district was raped and later killed allegedly by three persons all identified to be minors.

Her mutilated body was found hanging inside a deserted house by children who went to play there the next day on June 5.

The villagers have ever since apprehended all three accused.

The main accused was apprehended on June 6 from Senapati while the two other accused were apprehended on June 5 from the village itself.

However, all accused are kept in their own homes awaiting the announcement of the village authority’s verdict on June 27.

Speaking to the team, the victim’s father said Shangrila was a student of class VIII.

He said around 7pm of June 4, Shangrila was about to go to sleep with her mother when one of the accused called her out.

As her mother was already asleep, she managed to sneak out of the house, the father said.

About 50 meters from their house there is a deserted house where she met the main accused who was there with two other friends including the one who called her out.

The father also said that Shangrila was allegedly having a relation with the main accused since January this year.

He continued the main accused have already confessed before the village and said that Shangrila claimed she was pregnant with his child during their meeting on June 4.

This angered him and in his fit of rage raped her and then allowed his other friends to do so. They then hanged her inside the deserted house with a muffler, the father who was with the village chief recounted the confession of the three accused.

The main accused had also punctured the girl’s body with a 6mm iron rod.

The next day on June 5, some village children had gone to the deserted house to play and finding the girl hanging came out shouting.

This gathered the villagers who managed to nab the two co-accused but found the main accused missing from the village, he said.

The main accused was nabbed from Senapati the next day on June 6, he continued.

According to the village chief, the villagers angered by the heinous crime destroyed the house where the crime was committed.

He said as per a meeting held on June 7 of the Oktang Village Authority and attended by Inpui Wunion, Women Union, Inpui Students Union, youth leaders and elders of the village the three accused will be fined Rs 15,00,000 and expelled from the village. However, the verdict will be announced on June 27 and the accused will be given four day from the day the verdict is announce to leave the village, he continued.

The father also claimed that his family being poor could not even afford a post mortem of their daughter’s body.

Meanwhile, WAD member laitonjam Bijaya said proper justice should be brought to the case and it is unfortunate that he Tamenglong Police decided to remain silent on the issue.

Arrested DESAM members released

IMPHAL, June 20: The 16 members of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) including its president who were arrested by police for assaulting a computer science teacher of St Joseph

IMPHAL, June 20: The 16 members of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) including its president who were arrested by police for assaulting a computer science teacher of St Joseph School, Sangaiprou, have been released on bail bond today.

Addressing a press meet at its office here today following the release, president of DESAM M Angamba said that the incident in which the computer science teacher Gurumayum Rupachandra Sharma was assaulted at their office was unfortunate as the students’ body highly regards teachers.

He claimed that a student of the school namely Shytam was beaten by the teacher in his hand and other parts of his body 51 times using stick.

He admitted that the teacher was called by the student’s body at its office to hold a talk on the incident following a complaint filed by parents of the student over the corporal punishment meted out by the teacher to the student.

But unfortunately, the talk ended up with the teacher getting beaten by members of the students’ body, which could have been avoided, he said.

Appealing to all who are in teaching profession to pardon the students’ body for assaulting the teacher, he urged the government to look into the rampant violation of student rights in the State.

Many of the teachers in private schools are not DIET and B Ed pass. Misunderstanding may occur between teachers and students if teachers are not properly trained and strictly adhere to their ethics, the president of DESAM pointed out.

Quoting RTE Act, he said that a teacher cannot enter classroom with stick and beat student.

He expressed gratitude to those schools, colleges and organizations for ensuring that the 16 members of the students’ body are released at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/arrested-desam-members-released/

Speaker’s tribunal adjourns MLAs disqualification cases hearing to July 16

IMPHAL, June 20: The Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker today adjourned the next hearing of all four ongoing disqualification cases against Konthoujam MLA Konthoujam Sharat Singh and Langthabal MLA K Shyam

The hearing of the four cases began at 10:30am before the Tribunal Court of the Speaker and after a brief break from 1:15pm to 2pm continued till 4pm.

The first case to be taken up by the tribunal was disqualification case no 7 of 2014 – Th Shyamkumar Singh, MLA vs K Sarat Singh, MLA.

During the hearing petitioner of the case, Th Shyamkumar was represented by senior advocate HS Paonam, advocate L Ashini Kumar, advocate S DIjeswar, advocate Ksh Harichhaya, advocate N Bipin and advocate S Gunabanta., whereas the respondent K Sarat Singh was represented by advocate N Jotendro, advocate H Maipaksana and advocate Babita Thoudam.

In its ruling the tribunal said “Pursuant to the order passed by the Tribunal on June 6, 2015, the respondent has filed an application dated June 19, 2015 thereby submitting the status report in regards to WP (c) no 436 of 2015 now pending before the High Court of Manipur, coupled with a prayer for adjournment of the case for at least six weeks or till the final disposal of the case whichever is earlier.”

The ruling continued “Respondent is to satisfy this Tribunal as to whether pendency of a case before the High Court will bar this tribunal from taking up further proceedings in the absence of any stay order from the High Court.”

“In this regard, the learned counsel for the respondent prays for sometime which is not objected by the learned counsel for the petitioner. Prayer is allowed. List the matter on July 16 for further proceedings.”

The tribunal court than took up three disqualification cases against Langthabal MLA K Shyam Singh case no 14 of 2014, case no 15 of 2014 and case no 16 of 2014.

The petitioners of the three cases are K Sharatchandra Sharma, N Momon Meitei and Kh Vimal Singh respectively and were represented by advocate S Rupachandra and advocate S Gunabanta.

MLA Shyam Singh who is the respondent was represented by advocate Khaidem Mani, advocate S Shyamcharan and advocate Th Jugindro.

In his ruling for case no 14 of 2014, the tribunal said “Petitioner has filed an application dated June 19 praying for two weeks time for bringing certain vital documents on record considered the prayer in the interest o justice, prayer is allowed. As agreed by both the parties, list the matter on July 17 for further proceedings and the petitioner may file the documents as prayed for on or before July 14.”

The ruling in case no 15 of 2014 says “Petitioner has filed an application dated June 19 praying for two weeks time for bringing certain vital documents on record. Considered the prayer in the interest of justice, prayer is allowed. As agreed by both the parties, list the matter on July 17.”

Kuki body seeks creation of Kuki Development Council

IMPHAL, June 20: The Kuki (Khulmi) Development Council Demand Committee Manipur has submitted a memorandum for the creation of Kuki (Khulmi) Development Council comprising of Churachandpur, Chandel district and Sadar Hills to the Chief Minister on October 15, 2010 as the final political solution with Kuki UGs under SoO.

According to a release of the committee, so far no positive gesture has been visible from the side of the government.

It said the committee and the Kuki-Mizo-Zomi (Khulmi) public are constraint to think whether the government is interested in solving the problem with UGs under SoO.

The political settlement with hill based UGs will be achieved only when the 6th Scheduled of the Indian Constitution is extended to all the existing 6 Autonomous District Council viz., Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Sadar Hills and Churachandpur with full Legislative, Financial and Executive powers, it said.

The committee has further said that the government should invite civil organisations both from Kuki and Naga sides for the issue. Similarly, it should also invite all the hill based UG Groups across the table to exchange views and opinions in order to bring the problems to its logical end.

It also inquired on why the government is reluctant to implement the 6th Scheduled in the hill areas of Manipur which will not fructify its own objective but also bring permanent political solution to all the tribals without hurting the territorial integrity of Manipur despite the government’s expression of equal development for both the valley and hills of Manipur, it said.

Workshop cum theatre festival for children concludes

IMPHAL, June 20: A 20 Days Children Theatre Workshop cum 2 Days Children Theatre Festival organised by the Forward Artistes Centre En-Camped with financial assistance of Ministry of Culture (CFG),

IMPHAL, June 20: A 20 Days Children Theatre Workshop cum 2 Days Children Theatre Festival organised by the Forward Artistes Centre En-Camped with financial assistance of Ministry of Culture (CFG), concluded today at the Manipur Dramatic Union.

The valedictory function was attended by director of Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy L Upendro Sharma as chief guest and chairman of FACE L Iboyaima Singh as president.

Addressing the gathering, L Upendro Sharma hailed FACE for coming up with te festival solely for children.

He said that art cannot be learnt like general education, it has to be grasped from childhood stage.

To bring out the hidden talents of a child, teachers should nurture their confidence, he continued.

L Iboyaima Singh appreciated the role of culture and theatre organizations in developing and preserving the rich art and culture of the state.

As part of the programme, children performed Maibi Dance, MIME play titled ‘Freedom’ and a short play titled ‘Khambana Puru San Senba’ (Khamba Takes Care Purum Bull).

The short play ‘Khambana Puru San Senba’ is based on Moirang Sayon Epic.

A total of 20 children including 16 girls participated in the workshop cum theatre festival.

BJP questions NSCN (IM)’s interference in ADC polls

IMPHAL, June 20: The BJP, Manipur Pradesh has questioned the NSCN (1M)’s role in the recently held 6th Autonomous District Council Elections in Naga-dominated areas of Manipur. A press release of

IMPHAL, June 20: The BJP, Manipur Pradesh has questioned the NSCN (1M)’s role in the recently held 6th Autonomous District Council Elections in Naga-dominated areas of Manipur.

A press release of the party has maintained that the entire electoral process was completely “rigged and mutilated” to ensure victory of the NPF candidates, backed by NSCN(IM) and, in effect, “defeating the people.”

“This unimaginable and unheard of electoral feat in the annals of democratic elections is the direct outcome of open and blatant rigging of the entire electoral process in the form of open proxy voting; booth capturing, kidnapping of BIP agents & supporters under violent threat and intimidation,” it stated adding that all such disturbances were handiworks of NSCN (1M) cadres under the direct control and supervision of one Lt. General (Retd.) Markson.

It continued that the Manipur Unit of the BJP also seriously view the lack of responsefrom the concern authorities despite several reminders.

The act of hooligan and criminal activities that tantamount to humiliation, intimidation and the third degree torture towards their workers and leaders cannot be taken in a light vein, it said.

In fact, citizens of the hill districts of Manipur were debarred from practising their franchise during the recent ADC election, it said.

It is also a fact that the workers of BJP Manipur Pradesh prepared for the democratic process for participating the ADC election in a free and fair atmosphere, it said adding that two months before the party switched to political awareness campaign among the people of ADC areas.

However on the eve of the election, NSCN 1M and its frontal band NPF workers threatened and tortured their workers and candidate in the Naga inhabited areas and it did not spare the village chieftains and Headsmen either, it said.

It is therefore, urged the central leadership to intervene immediately with effective remedial actions, so that it does not repeat again in the same old arena.

”People have been demoralised and the party has been let down and in the given scenario nothing short of surgical treatments of the cancerous trends that eating into the vitals of the party will improved. A remedial measure is the need of the hour and this action will help, retrieve and regain the loss of image of the BJP Manipur, it said.

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, BJP Manipur Unit president Th Chaoba said the BJP Manipur Pradesh has opened a unit office in Tamenglong district in preparation for the State Assembly election in 2017.

Speaking at a press conference in the party office today, he said party officials including the Tamenglong district president, party candidates of the ADC election in Tamenglong district among others had convened a meeting to review the just concluded ADC election.

The meeting reviewed reasons behind the defeat of party candidates despite the BJP executing some good works in the hill district during the past two three months, he said.

Chaoba said the defeat of the party candidates have been mainly because of the money and gun power flex by the Congress and UG groups based in the hills, however, the election has been a success of sort for the party as inspite of all the hindrances and threats, the people of hills supported the party helping it to win 21 seats.

This means that the party has support in the hills and that the Congress has been defeated as it managed to win only 26 seats from 103 sitting members, he said.

Now, the workers of the party in Tamenglong have decided to work for the people with help from the Centre, he added.

Soon, a team of BJP leaders will leave for Delhi to apprise the Central leaders of the issue and at the same time put pressure on issues like the Dzuko Valley land dispute, bandhs and blockades, he said.

BJP Manipur general secretary Media L Bashanta Sharma said this time, either the Governor or the chief justice of the High Court should administer the oath taking and swearing in ceremony of the ADC elected members.

Congress candidate celebrates victory

KANGPOKPI, June 20: Triumphant Congress candidate of 10-Gamnom Sapormeina district council constituency Lunthang Haokip has today celebrated his victory in the recently concluded 5th ADC Election 2015 at the Church

Presentation and passing on good wishes to the candidates apart from thanksgiving and blessing were the main highlight of the function which was attended by various chiefs, social workers and church leaders where Rev. Mangpithang Haokip, Pastor, KBC Circle No.4 graced the occasion as Blessing Minister.

Visibly excited Lunthang Haokip while speaking at the function has said that the recently concluded ADC election was much tougher than the previous one while a lot have been initiated by the state Government in exercising the people’s franchise rights in the election competition which has been much more democratic than in the previous election.

“It is the blessing of God and secondly the love and trust of the people as well as the party humble support and cooperation which gave me success in the election”, said the INC candidate who was re-elected for the term in the constituency.

Earlier, Lunthang Haokip was elected uncontested from 10-Gamnom Sapormeina and inducted into Executive Member of ADC Sadar Hills with a responsibility of Medical and Vety. Department.

The jubilant INC candidate continued that he has no enmity towards the people who voted for him and who have not because of his main ideology in election is principally based on party system and now it was his humble duty to work for the people as a whole during his tenure.

The INC candidate also thanked the election committee apart from many others individuals who physically, mentally and in prayer helped him succeed in the competition.

Ecstatic as well as emotional Hatnu, wife of the triumphant INC candidate while expressing her gratitude towards the people for their support and cooperation made an offering for the thanksgiving and blessing ceremony of the function.

Three polling stations under 10-Gamnom Sapormeina DCC where INC got the highest votes were awarded handsomely according to wish of the candidate.

Kuki Gospel artiste Jenny Touthang, Boikim Haokip, Neopi and Chonminlal Doungel including Male Voice Team, Salem Sapormeina enthralled the crowd during the function with their melodious voice.

A jubilant feast marked the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/congress-candidate-celebrates-victory/

Manipur’s Muslim council welcomes ‘health benefits’ – Times of India

Manipur’s Muslim council welcomes ‘health benefits’
Times of India
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) said Christians of the state will join the usual church services on the day. “There is no question of defying Yoga Day. Since it’s a Sunday, we are bound by religion to attend the church services …

Manipur's Muslim council welcomes 'health benefits'
Times of India
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) said Christians of the state will join the usual church services on the day. "There is no question of defying Yoga Day. Since it's a Sunday, we are bound by religion to attend the church services …

Day: June 20, 2015