The end of handwritten letters?

By: Tinky Ningombam A long time has passed since I got a greeting card leave alone a letter for New Year`™s. The last I remember was a small tag card

By: Tinky Ningombam

A long time has passed since I got a greeting card leave alone a letter for New Year`™s. The last I remember was a small tag card that came along with a gift which just said `Best Wishes`. I think cards and letters have disappeared starting from our generation. How long has it been since one bought a stamp and mailed a letter? How long since one mailed a postcard? We are so used to sending short text mails and instant messages that writing with our hand has become taxing for us. Gone are the days when we needed an Archies`™ card to express our love.

One of my priced possession is a postcard letter that one of my convent Sister sent to me. If I am not wrong that was the first letter that anyone had posted to me in my life. She had transferred to another school in the country and a group of us had written letters that we dropped for her through our school mail. To my surprise and joy, we got a letter back from her, tapped to the notice board. It was hardly two pages from her asking us about our school and telling us about her new one but with it brought the strange joy of receiving a handwritten letter marked with my name.

But this seems like ages ago. Handwritten letters have gradually disappeared from our social life. Despite my infallible love of paper and writing, I have replaced my ink and paper for the fast and edit-ready laptop. I recall the time in school when I used to write most of the friends`™ letters. That used to be a fun affair. I could create elaborate premises, use extended metaphors, show-off my love of words. In the olden days my trade would definitely have been one of writing letters for people.

Now we do not opt for slow communication. Emails and text messages have replaced what was once a very personal and slow process of penning down one`™s thoughts and then sharing it. There is something about the act of thinking and stringing words writing to someone. Then the bittersweet feeling of waiting for the letter reaching someone and the anticipation of a response.

With letters, the thoughts are permanent. We cannot pen down a transient thought. It has to be a commitment to our feeling at that point of time and it captured what we felt at that moment. Whether it was a forceful scribbling with dabs of ink on the corner of the pages or a phrase that was gingerly written after many corrections and cross-outs. I believe that the auto-corrected electronic word documents or type pads cannot capture the personality of a handwritten note.

It is in-fact a secret joy for me to find second hand books where I find small notes at the sides, a small doodle or even a piece of handwritten note as it lends more character to the book which has captured a little bit of the history of the previous owner. And for that I hoard my own scribbled notes. Random bad literature and handwritten notes which once meant something quite different to me. If one asks anyone about the last time we wrote a letter to someone we might not even remember the year. Goethe said that letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind after their passing away. Be it Oscar Wilde`™s impeccable love letters or John Keats`™ pained last letters to his friends. The charm of handwritten letters is one that will have no match to compare with.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/the-end-of-handwritten-letters/

A cold bed

By RK Lakhi Kant A different playfield on the bridge. A poor boy running playfully on the iron floor of the bridge conveys much more than we can understand. Boyish

By RK Lakhi Kant

A different playfield on the bridge.
A poor boy running playfully on the
iron floor of the bridge conveys
much more than we can understand.
Boyish fun does not depend on
anything else, sometimes not even
on the bare survival he is living for
on a pan stained over-bridge.
I saw an old mother waiting;
for what I am not sure, but
I think she was begging.
Begone begging, begone! Give the
old mother a better occupation.
The woman I saw sitting on the
lowest step of the staircase on the
entrance gate to the metro rail, when
I was setting out for selling some
books a few stations down
the way, was still in the same
place and the same trouble
when I reached the place a second
time over after finishing my work.
I am not sure how much aware she
was of her condition in the
cold winter day. The sun
which was out in the afternoon
when I left was set and the
street lamp nearby was lit
behind the tree there.
Maybe she mistook the lamp
for the sun; but soon the
realization would come that the
cold night is approaching and
she is without any means to
manoeuvre through the chill.
There`s no end in sight to
this suffering and as I
reach the marketplace I see
a boy, barely dressed for the cold,
leaving the garbage site after
rummaging through the dump
to see if he could find something
of any value for recycling.
The dogs somehow find these
people to growl at dangerously
and bark chasing them away.
I am not sure why the dog
does this because people
without a home deserve to be
given protection, especially
young kids. Dogs are usually
very friendly with young boys
but they don`t like people,
especially kids, to dress up
in filthy clothes and be vagabonds.
When did the boy have a bath and
change of clothes the last time,
I wonder.
O ruthless, ruthless this life.
Cooked food and a shelter and
warm clothing for the night.
An easy work made difficult
a thousand times over by the
agents of vice who sell away
and profit from the warm beddings
at the few night shelters for the
poor in the city.
Let`s not break the hearts
of the four-five year old boys
and girls who are just beginning
to find out the truth about a
dreary life, in the cold wintry
nights on the pavements.
Give relief, give relief to my
poor countrymen.
Let not even the slightest
feelings for the candidates
eligible for kindness
go by abegging without any
response. Give them food and
shelter so that they can live
properly, than an inhuman
death, left with no choice,
give them the relief.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/a-cold-bed/

Time, The Patron of Man

By Ajay Moirangthem I woke up in a new world, with dreams being exagerated. I started my short journey,burled with a firm hold of fist, unfolded. I cherrished, the lively

By Ajay Moirangthem

I woke up in a new world,
with dreams being exagerated.
I started my short journey,burled
with a firm hold of fist, unfolded.
I cherrished, the lively days of yesterday.
Time being my patron reflector,
everyday I changed with time.
Everything was new and infantile.
Today I woke up from the day
And walked in front of a mirror.
I`m happy of what I have gained through time,
And I smile.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/time-the-patron-of-man/

Dr. Bijoy praises DESAM for effort to lift education quality

IMPHAL, January 3: Dr Ng Bijoy extended appreciation of the activities of DESAM volunteers who are trying to bring quality education in state, but added they needed to refrain some

IMPHAL, January 3: Dr Ng Bijoy extended appreciation of the activities of DESAM volunteers who are trying to bring quality education in state, but added they needed to refrain some exaggeration just to achieve their demands.

He said this in his speech as chief guest in the 13th foundation day of Democratic Students`™ Alliance of Manipur held at Centenary Hall, Manipur University today under the theme `refraining politics from government`™s role in education`.

He further lauded the role played by DESAM for the uplift of education and other related fields in state.

Manipur has a separate educational policy but it has changes time to time. The focus of this policy is to encourage students he said, adding the government is very concerned about the issue of improving quality of education in the state.

He said it is very unfortunate to learn that some Board and Council officials have been practising politics and irregularities in declaration of merits list of students.

He speculated that this could have been on account of pressures or else corruption of these officials. This is unfortunate as such practises kill the faith of meritorious students, and such a predicament is bound to lead to further decline of quality of education in the state.

He appealed to the officials of the Board and Council to allow assessment of examination answer papers by concerned subject teachers. In the current trends irresponsible teachers are being allowed to asses answer scripts of subjects which are not their own subjects. This practice can severely impact the academic careers of meritorious students, Dr Ng Bijoy Singh said.

Very often the misdeeds are not at the behest of politicians but carried out by authorities of the Board and Council themselves. He also regretted that bureaucrats are these days practising politics and not leaving it for politicians.

Deputy Speaker MK Preshow Shimray expressed that DESAM, AMSU, MSF are taking vital roles among the valley base students striving to uplift the education sector in the State. These students union are struggling to reach educational facilities to those schools existing in valley.

He however said it is unfortunate not much attention has been paid to fates of schools located at hills districts. So students of hill districts need physical and moral supports from these students`™ organisation to get balance development in education sectors in both hills and valley.

President of DESAM, Moirangthem Angamba; Dean of Students`™ Welfare of MU, Prof RK Hemakumar; president of All Zeliangrong Students`™ Union, Assam, Manipur & Nagaland, Pamei Tingenlung; president of KSO general HQ, Paothingthang Lupheng also attended the function.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/dr-bijoy-praises-desam-for-effort-to-lift-education-quality/

Thin attendance did not deter Gaan Ngai celebration

IMPHAL, January 3: The Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee Manipur also celebrated Gaan-Ngai at Langthabal Chingthak, Lubanglwang, Imphal West today. In the celebration MLA Langthabal Karan Shyam attended as chief guest, Finance

IMPHAL, January 3: The Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee Manipur also celebrated Gaan-Ngai at Langthabal Chingthak, Lubanglwang, Imphal West today.

In the celebration MLA Langthabal Karan Shyam attended as chief guest, Finance Officer (CAF and PD) Angang Meiringmei as president and Hiyangthang Zilla Parishad Member Soibam Subhaschandra and Pradhan, Hiyangthan Gram Panchayat Sh Silasana are the guests of honor.

In his speech to the gathering Karam Shyam expressed regrets at the sparse attendance, though this was the state level celebration of this important festival. He expressed concern that this may be an indication that the state is not paying too much attention to its history, tradition and ancient cultures.

He further said that it is the time now to examine how other countries and state are preserving their tradition to contrast with how we are neglecting our. He urged all to be proud of preserving the state`™s diverse languages, cultures and traditions.

He also cautioned that the new generation should know that adaptation of new religions should not be at the cost of neglecting their old religion and tradition. Such an approach will only create rifts in the societies.

Shyam also observed that the 21st Century world has made great advances, but it is unfortunate religious fundamentalism has been its scourge.

He also said that unthinking and insensitive people are destroying the gift of nature and its beauty and thereby causing global warming. They however do not realise that by their tendency to destroy nature wantonly they are inviting calamities which will put all of humanity in misery and peril.

He further said it is true that culture and tradition brings love, peace and harmony between communities, and indeed betweens states and countries as well. This being the case, we all should give more attention to them, he emphasised.

Also addressing the Gaan-Ngai gathering, member organizing committee Kambui Gangmei said that Gaan-Ngai is the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong peoples residing in the three North East States that is Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

She also said that Gaan-Ngai festival is celebrated for five days with cultural gusto and religious fervour. It is a post harvest festival, expressing the joy at the bounty of nature and hard work.

Kambui said that at this time the granaries are full, the landscape is dry and that whole village is free from all hard agricultural works which people in turn celebration. The festivity is also about worshipping God and honouring the ancestors in their heavenly abode.

Chief of Langthabal Chingthak, Bunglaona Kamei conducted the oblation of Holy Wine to Tingkao Ragwang as well as scared fire was extracted by the youths of the Langthabal Chingthak, and with this fire chief guest lit the festival torch.

Dancers from Chingkon village, Senapati District presented a captivating folk dance, TRC Phoichingtong village of Bishnupur District presents a devotional song and Abumei Kamei and Alice Gangmei of Chalungkhou, Churachanpur presented a folk song.

Meanwhile Sawongbung Sairem village and Hiyangthang village dance troops show cased the Zeliangrong culture with well appreciated dances.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/thin-attendance-did-not-deter-gaan-ngai-celebration/

PWF, Manipur remembers Arambam Saroj Nalini on her sixth death anniversary – KanglaOnline

PWF, Manipur remembers Arambam Saroj Nalini on her sixth death anniversaryKanglaOnlineIMPHAL, January 3: The Patriotic Writers Forum, Manipur quoted Dr. Chirom Rajketon, associate professor of Kha Manipur College, who spoke as a resource person on the …

PWF, Manipur remembers Arambam Saroj Nalini on her sixth death anniversary
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, January 3: The Patriotic Writers Forum, Manipur quoted Dr. Chirom Rajketon, associate professor of Kha Manipur College, who spoke as a resource person on the commemoration of the 6th death anniversary of the late Arambam Saroj Nalini at the …

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Manipuri culture can be compared with that of the ancient Greeks: Deputy CM … – KanglaOnline

Manipuri culture can be compared with that of the ancient Greeks: Deputy CM
KanglaOnline
Likewise, Manipur also has a unique identity in arts and culture like a modern day version of the ancient Greek civilization today. From the beginning, Manipur has so many festivals in a year which shows that its people are hard-working. Due to the
Zeliangrong community’s Gaan-Ngai festival beginsEastern Mirror
Source: The Sangai ExpressE-Pao.net

all 6 news articles »

Manipuri culture can be compared with that of the ancient Greeks: Deputy CM
KanglaOnline
Likewise, Manipur also has a unique identity in arts and culture like a modern day version of the ancient Greek civilization today. From the beginning, Manipur has so many festivals in a year which shows that its people are hard-working. Due to the
Zeliangrong community's Gaan-Ngai festival beginsEastern Mirror
Source: The Sangai ExpressE-Pao.net

all 6 news articles »

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFBUq2PVRpc0TzIKhJOcD_AhMnD6w&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778700942481&ei=2oSoVICUI_CL8gHUkID4CA&url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/manipuri-culture-can-be-compared-with-that-of-the-ancient-greeks-deputy-cm-gaikhangam/

The problem of viewing the nation as a container

By Pradip Phanjoubam (The following paragraphs are another excerpt from the writers forthcoming book written as a fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, IIAS.) The prevalent tendency in

By Pradip Phanjoubam

(The following paragraphs are another excerpt from the writers forthcoming book written as a fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, IIAS.)

The prevalent tendency in the study of Northeast has been to look at the region as an island segregated from the rest of the world. Seldom have the region been looked upon as possibly a product of the larger environment within which it exists, which by the very nature of its political geography would transcend national boundaries. Often this outlook is determined by an inherent and possessive hubris of a national community wanting to see all territories and peoples within its political geography as essentially a part of the national organic being. Every part of India therefore must belong to the India story alone, or the Indian historical mainstream, and any other narrative which do not conform to this standard of national imagining, thereby, become deviant and alien, and must ultimately be brought into the mainstream. But the story of the Northeast cannot but be honestly told alongside those of the countries which straddle it on practically all sides. This then is the problem of the Northeast narrative at its essence, defined by a core contradiction between what is projected as the Indian national mainstream and the different streams that the region expectedly have always also belonged to.

The nation, as Peter J. Taylor once wrote, in this context becomes akin to a cultural container. Nothing spills outside it and conversely, nothing from outside spills into it. Any historical stream which tended not to fit perfectly into this container becomes a problem area. Furthermore, it is another characteristic of the State universally to be suspicious of these `deviant and non-mainstream`™ histories and peoples. The Indian State has been no exception. India`™s first home minister, Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel`™s letter of 7 November 1950, to the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru is just one alibi of this. In this letter, the leader reverentially referred to in India as the Iron Man, apart from showing deep political insights and understanding of the mind of India`™s northern neighbour China, also is unambiguous of an irredentist suspicion of the `non-mainstream`™ Northeast.

Patel`™s political foresight is remarkable in almost predicting the 1962 war with China at a time Nehru`™s India was befriending China and canvassing for bringing the country into the UN fold, making India the sole country outside of the Soviet bloc to do so. But in this 1950 letter he also cautions Nehru to be wary of the population of the Northeast, whose loyalty to India he says has always been suspect: `The people inhabiting these portions have no established loyalty or devotion to India. Even Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas are not free from pro-Mongoloid prejudices. During the last three years, we have not been able to make any appreciable approaches to the Nagas and other hill tribes in Assam. European missionaries and other visitors had been in touch with them, but their influence was in no way friendly to India or Indians.`™ Elsewhere, the statesman does acknowledge the cross border interrelatedness of histories, but this is seen as a matter for the nation to be wary of: `All along the Himalayas in the north and north-east, we have on our side of the frontier a population ethnologically and culturally not different from Tibetans and Mongoloids. The undefined state of the frontier and the existence on our side of a population with its affinities to the Tibetans or Chinese have all the elements of the potential trouble between China and ourselves.`™

Indeed, the conceptualisation of nation as a cultural container becomes extremely problematic in the context of a multi linguistic, multi ethnic, multi religion country like India. Especially in dealing with peripheral provinces such as the Northeast, an approximate 98 percent of whose physical boundary is international, there can be no other way of studying the place, its histories and peoples without doing so in consonance with the territories beyond these international borders. In any case, these boundaries are mid twentieth century phenomena, and stories earlier than the period will not have them at all. In many ways, whatever their biases informing their own views of the world, colonial historian who worked on maps bigger than the confines of national boundaries in many ways provided a clearer pictures of the pasts of these peripheral regions. Chroniclers of imperial history such as Alexander Mackenzie, Edward Gait and Robert Reid therefore remain indispensable in any serious study of the Northeast region.

In this chapter, which is a continuation of the previous chapter, I shall argue some more how an understanding of Tibet`™s history is important in coming to grip with the idea of the Northeast and the region`™s psychology. It should be interesting therefore, to explore and discover for instance how Imperial Russia`™s interest in Mongolia would have had an impact on the evolution of the idea of the Northeast. How Britain`™s zealous and over protective outlook towards its empire`™s frontiers in Afghanistan and Persia too would have had similar influences in the shaping of the Northeast. How the clash of interest between Russia and Britain in Tibet and their decision to agree to a treaty-bound mutual exclusion of each other from the region would ultimately leave the field clear for China`™s entry into Tibet. How this decision of the two powers in turn profoundly influenced the security environment of the Northeast, as well as introduced an element of uncertainty to the northern boundary of the region. How in summary, the Great Game, the name given to the undeclared territorial rivalry towards the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century between Britain and Russia, two great powers of the era, was a big factor in the making of the physical map as well as the psychological makeup of the Northeast. I shall also argue how the McMahon Line, with all its flaws and blemishes, is very much a product of this Great Game.

Great Game East:

Not many have tried to explore these connections. But of the few, at least one has gone even beyond to suggest the Great Game has a sequel. In Bertil Lintner`™s 2012 book `Great Game East`, the author argues that after the Great Game in Central Asia concluded in the early 20th century with the changes in power alliances in Europe post WWI, another one began unfolding in the South and South East Asia. This time the rivalry is for the control of Asia`™s most volatile frontier `“ the Indo-Burma region. This Great Game East is between the Western and Eastern Blocs began, and the Western Bloc`™s mission, at least in the beginning, was of combating the spread of Communism in the world. One of the chief protagonists in this conflict theatre, as elsewhere, understandably was the US which through its undercover agency, the CIA, ran operations supporting Tibetan resistance fighters even as the ultimate defeat of Chiang Kai-shek`™s Chinese nationalist party the Koumintang, KMT, at the hands of the Chinese Communists, became imminent towards 1949. Prior to the 1962 India-China war, when hostilities between India and China was still not open, this was done without the knowledge of India, and with the assistance of Sikkimese and Nepali sleuths. The operation headquarters were in East Pakistan and Nepal. After the 1962 war, India too became party to this game.

In reciprocation, China too in the 1970s and 80s, openly extended help to Northeast insurgents, beginning with the Nagas. But here too, the power alignments would shift in the years after the 1962 war. China would fall out with the USSR, the archrival of the US, even as India finds itself drifting closer to the USSR. Consequently, the US would warm up to China. Before 1962, while the battle line of the Cold War was clearly marked between the Western democracies and the world Communist movement, the equation was far more complex in South Asia. Immediately after WWII, the US under President Harry Truman and then more urgently under President Dwight David Eisenhower, began identifying China as a major threat and challenge for the West in its fight against the spread of Communism in Asia. The Americans first tried to fight the Communists in China through the Chaing Kai-shek`™s nationalist government. Chiang Kai-shek, a long time ally of the West, a nationalist who abhorred the Communists, and a devout Christian, fitted the bill well, especially during the Eisenhower era propaganda war, when the conflict was depicted as a fight between the Godless Communists world and God-fearing `free world`. The president, himself an orthodox Christian, even incorporated prominent evangelical leader of the time, Billy Graham, in his propaganda war against Communism. `The Eisenhower administration also `added the words `In God We Trust` to all US currency, and the phrase `Under God` to the Pledge of Alliance, thus distinguishing Americans from the Little Moscovites who were solemnly pledging to their hammer and sickle flag.`™ Truman, though also a devout Christian, unlike Eisenhower declared the thrust of his campaign was to prevent a Third World War. When Chiang Kai-shek`™s defeat at the hands of the Communists became imminent, America began looking to India for an ally. Both Truman and Eisenhower knew India`™s importance in this war, and thought as a democratic and religious country, it was a natural ally. The Prime Minister of India during the period, Jawaharlal Nehru, however remained unmoved, engrossed as he was in building up the Non-Aligned Movement, NAM, which he earnestly believed was the alternate world order. Nehru was not a Communist supporter, but he wanted to deal with Communism on his own terms, not as a foot soldier of America`™s war. As an agnostic liberal, he was also uneasy with America`™s crusade with an overly religious hue. When America tried to enlist India as an ally in the wake of North Korea`™s invasion of South Korea, Nehru only offered to be the mediator to bring the West to the negotiating table with the Communists, much to the annoyance of the Americans. Nehru`™s neutralism not only piqued the Americans, but it was also ultimately to drive them to lean towards Pakistan, when it became certain India would not be the anchor they needed so much in South Asia. This in turn would spiral, and India would begin leaning closer to the USSR, and indeed China. The 1962 India-China border war would therefore not only break Nehru`™s heart, but also cause a radical shift in the power alignment in the region and indeed the world. China would begin drifting from the USSR, and jumping at opportunity, the US would begin covertly wooing China.

It is also said the controversial 1970 book by British Australian journalist reporting for a British newspaper from India during the 1960s, Neville Maxwell, `India`™s China War`, which the then American Secretary of State Henry Kissinger openly praised, is also believed to have been one of the catalysts in this thaw in relation between the US and China. It is significant that Kissinger in 1970 and the then US President, Richard Nixon in 1971, made their historic visits to China flagging off a new era of power alliance, paving the way for China opening up to the Capitalist world. Maxwell`™s book, based almost solely on Indian sources, in particular the still classified Gen. Henderson Brooks-Brig. Prem Bhagat report 1963 on India`™s disastrous 1962 war with China which apparently was leaked to him, is generally considered as brilliantly written and researched book. Reviewers however have noted that he is too enthusiastic to agree with the Chinese views and equally enthusiastic to disagree with the Indian views. The book damns India as the aggressor and portrays China as the aggrieved in the 1962 war.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/the-problem-of-viewing-the-nation-as-a-container/

Manipuri culture can be compared with that of the ancient Greeks: Deputy CM Gaikhangam

IMPHAL, January 3: Gaan-Ngai is a part of the State`™s cultural heritage though it is small in size and our richness in culture is like a modern day version of

Kabui youths in traditional dresses preparing for a dance performance in Gaan Ngai festival.

Kabui youths in traditional dresses preparing for a dance performance in Gaan Ngai festival.

IMPHAL, January 3: Gaan-Ngai is a part of the State`™s cultural heritage though it is small in size and our richness in culture is like a modern day version of the ancient Greek State, stated Deputy Chief minister Gaikhangam while speaking at the inaugural function of the State level Gaan-Ngai festival at the Mahakabui Namching village under Senapati district today.

He further stated that Manipur has a unique identity and is rich in art and culture. Manipur has represented India in the field of games and culture all across the globe, he added.

`Ancient Greece was well known for its rich culture and civilization in the past. Likewise, Manipur also has a unique identity in arts and culture like a modern day version of the ancient Greek civilization today. From the beginning, Manipur has so many festivals in a year which shows that its people are hard-working. Due to the hard-work of its people, Manipur is prosperous and has become a festive state`, the Deputy CM said.

There are 40 tribes in the hills and valley of Manipur among which 35 tribes are now recognised by the State government. Their culture activities and identity is included in the rich cultural heritage of Manipur, he informed.

Stressing that Manipur is incomplete without Kukis, Meiteis, Nagas or Muslims, he stated that people should not forget their motherland `Manipur` while adding that the sense of unity among the people of Manipur can`t be undermined by external forces.

Till today, external forces have always suffered defeat while attempting to break our cultural integrity and unity. Kuki, Naga, Meitei, Muslim etc are inter-dependent on one another and have co-existed since time immemorial in our state, he said.

This is the right time to show the maturity of Manipuri people and their unity and strength to outside states or country, the Deputy CM said, instructing people to learn from the past, feel and do today and hope for the future.

Speaking on the occasion, Commerce and Industry minister Govindas Konthoujam said Gaan-Ngai is a festival of unity among the various communities of Manipur.

`The festival is promoting the rich culture of the ancestors of the Zeliangrong tribes in Manipur and is a gift of cultural wealth from our forefathers which need to preserve and maintain for the next generations. The Gaan-Ngai festival shows that our rich culture is still alive`, the Commerce and Industry minister said.

He further stated that the unique nature of the festival was that leaders of all communities in the state participate and enjoy the cultural festival by exchanging the traditional culture of unity.

In his key note address, President of the Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland), Amu Kamei said that the government after India become independent has given importance to the traditional customs and culture of the various communities including the tribes of India. The protection and preservation of the customs and culture of tribals have been guaranteed under Article 371 of Indian Constitution, he added.

He further stated that the Zeliangrong Union appreciated the State government of Manipur for giving attention to the traditions, culture and customs of the tribals. The Gaan-Ngai festival is the only tribal festival which is still celebrated in its original and traditional form after thousands of years. Manipur can take pride for its richness in culture and dance, he added.

Today`™s festival began with the lighting-up of holy fire after which various rites were performed and also feature colourful Kabui traditional dances meant to give farewells to departed souls.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/manipuri-culture-can-be-compared-with-that-of-the-ancient-greeks-deputy-cm-gaikhangam/

One held for child trafficking in Manipur – The Hindu

One held for child trafficking in ManipurThe HinduOne person from Maharastra, identified as Ozish has been arrested by the security forces along with three children he was smuggling out of Manipur. He had abducted them from their homes. Trafficking of …

One held for child trafficking in Manipur
The Hindu
One person from Maharastra, identified as Ozish has been arrested by the security forces along with three children he was smuggling out of Manipur. He had abducted them from their homes. Trafficking of children has been thriving in Manipur. Some girls

and more »

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Manipur’s potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9 … – ANINEWS

Manipur’s potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9
ANINEWS
Manipur, Jan 3 (ANI): The annual Orange festival in Tamenglong district is to boost the morale of orange growers in the region as they bring the best of their products to win an award. This year, more than 300 orange cultivators participated with a

and more »

Manipur's potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9
ANINEWS
Manipur, Jan 3 (ANI): The annual Orange festival in Tamenglong district is to boost the morale of orange growers in the region as they bring the best of their products to win an award. This year, more than 300 orange cultivators participated with a

and more »

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNEC1zxBBIsxC2B70ENfAwdOcpIFlA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778701235543&ei=7manVKjDAaT-8AHc5oCQBQ&url=http://www.aninews.in/videogallery2/32146-manipur-039-s-potential-in-horticulture-showcased-during-orange-festival-.html

Manipur’s potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9 … – ANINEWS

Manipur’s potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9
ANINEWS
Manipur, Jan 3 (ANI): The annual Orange festival in Tamenglong district is to boost the morale of orange growers in the region as they bring the best of their products to win an award. This year, more than 300 orange cultivators participated with a

Manipur's potential in horticulture showcased during orange festival. Jan 3, 9
ANINEWS
Manipur, Jan 3 (ANI): The annual Orange festival in Tamenglong district is to boost the morale of orange growers in the region as they bring the best of their products to win an award. This year, more than 300 orange cultivators participated with a

Read more / Original news source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFxyJPejGtYAOoi6IXa2VxrdjE4OA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=GieoVIC1GMTZ8AHe24CACA&url=http://www.aninews.in/videogallery9/32146-manipur-039-s-potential-in-horticulture-showcased-during-orange-festival-.html

Nuklutoshi regrets decline on Christian principles in Nagas

Nagaland Minister for National Highways and Mechanical Engineering Nuklutoshi expressed his unhappiness on the fast decline of Christian spirit and the principles among the Naga people Source Oken Jeet Sandham NEPS

Nagaland Minister for National Highways and Mechanical Engineering Nuklutoshi expressed his unhappiness on the fast decline of Christian spirit and the principles among the Naga people Source Oken Jeet Sandham NEPS

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=18&src=030115

Road closed

With the authorities concerned unable to repair the road leading to Sekmai LPG bottling plant from Imphal Dimapur highway within December, the Awang Sekmai Nongthonband Youth Club has closed the approach road since January 1 Source The Sangai Express

With the authorities concerned unable to repair the road leading to Sekmai LPG bottling plant from Imphal Dimapur highway within December, the Awang Sekmai Nongthonband Youth Club has closed the approach road since January 1 Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=17&src=030115

Social orgs demand halt to digging work at Tombisana HS complex

Forty social organisations yesterday protested against the State Government’s decision to continue with the excavation work at Tombisana High School complex where at least eight human skulls and skeletal remains were found last December Source The S…

Forty social organisations yesterday protested against the State Government’s decision to continue with the excavation work at Tombisana High School complex where at least eight human skulls and skeletal remains were found last December Source The Sangai Express Newmai News Network

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=9&src=030115

State natives held

Two drug smugglers, wearing army fatigues, were arrested from the Howrah railway station with 25 kilograms of drugs in their possession Source The Sangai Express

Two drug smugglers, wearing army fatigues, were arrested from the Howrah railway station with 25 kilograms of drugs in their possession Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=15&src=030115

Gaikhangam says incidents of violent crimes recorded ‘very low’ in Manipur in 2014

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said the incidents of crime in the State considered to be a ‘conflict zone’ were recorded ‘very low’ in 2014 and attributed it to the people’s cooperation given to the Government Source The Sangai Express Newmai N…

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said the incidents of crime in the State considered to be a ‘conflict zone’ were recorded ‘very low’ in 2014 and attributed it to the people’s cooperation given to the Government Source The Sangai Express Newmai News Network

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=8&src=030115

Maring calendar released

A 2015 calendar of Maring tribe published by Maring Progressive Forum was released by D Korungthang, MLA 42 Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency at Khukarthil Village Community Hall in Chandel district today Source The Sangai Express

A 2015 calendar of Maring tribe published by Maring Progressive Forum was released by D Korungthang, MLA 42 Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency at Khukarthil Village Community Hall in Chandel district today Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=13&src=030115

Imoinu Iratpa extensively held all over

As celebrated in the past many years, the traditional worship of Ema Imoinu celebrated as Imoinu Iratpa day was extensively performed across the State amongst the Meitei community today Source The Sangai Express

As celebrated in the past many years, the traditional worship of Ema Imoinu celebrated as Imoinu Iratpa day was extensively performed across the State amongst the Meitei community today Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=7&src=030115

UG cadres apprehended

Based on specific intelligence inputs regarding movement of a UG cadre, troops of the 2 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector AR under the aegis of HQ IGAR South alongwith Thoubal police commandos launched a joint operation in the general area of Tere Urak Ngamuk…

Based on specific intelligence inputs regarding movement of a UG cadre, troops of the 2 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector AR under the aegis of HQ IGAR South alongwith Thoubal police commandos launched a joint operation in the general area of Tere Urak Ngamukhong and apprehended one KYKL cadre on January 1, according to a statement issued by HQ IGAR South Source The Sangai Express

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=11&src=030115