nE bLoGgErS

NE women for AFSPA repeal

2010-09-29T19:37:00.001-07:00

Dimapur, Sep 30 : Women leaders from the north-east of India today said the dehumanizing effect of Government of India’s black law the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, is being seen yet again in Jammu & Kashmir. Under the AFSPA women and children of the north-east have been the worst sufferers and the Government of India is being alienated, the Indigenous Women Forum of North-East India (IWFNEI) said today.

The forum met in Dimapur, Nagaland, on September 28. The meeting was attended by state convenors of Manipur, Tripura, Assam and Nagaland chapter, besides the forum officials.

“While deliberating over issues of mutual concerns, all the participants strongly expressed their resentment over the continuation of the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958, which has been used particularly against the people of Nagaland and later to the whole of North-East Indian states in 1972,” the forum said in a statement today.

The forum said the imposition of the black Act to dehumanise people in political conflict areas is now being seen in Jammu and Kashmir. The situation has sharply attracted the attention of people everywhere, the forum said. It has forced the political leaders of India to debate on the necessity of retaining such Acts which only alienates the Government from the people, the forum said.

“As women of North-East India, who have been the worst sufferers of this draconian Act, both as direct victims and its consequences stands to testify that the AFSPA does not help a Government or its people in any way whatever the justification may be.

Therefore, IWFNEI resolved to condemn the imposition of the AFSPA wherever it may be, and calls for immediate revocation and withdrawal of the Act.”

NE Youth Peace Festival set to be held

2010-09-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dimapur, Sep 17 : The North East Regional Youth Peace Festival 2010 organized by Peace Channel is all set to be held on the September 19 and 20 at the Holy Cross Auditorium Dimapur. The Annual Peace Festival is organized to mark the International Day of Peace and the Peace Channel Foundation day which falls on September 21.
The mega event will host over 1200 youth from Nagaland as well as North East India. The highlights include, Interactive Group Sessions on Peace, Panel Discussion on the theme of the year – ‘Youth for Peace and Development’, Peace Celebrations, Peace Channel Awards, Cultural Fiesta and Peace Band live performances. A variety of cultural and folk items from the participants will also add colour and
entertainment.
Moangwati Aier, Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur will be the chief guest at the inaugural function to be held at 1:30 pm on September 19. Geoffrey Yaden, Chief Editor, Nagaland Post will be the guest of honour.
Nikhil Kumar, Governor of Nagaland will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest at the Valedictory and Peace Channel Awards function to be held at 1:30 pm on September 20.
Lt. Gen. N.K. Singh, AVSM VSM will be the Guest of Honour while Rev. Fr. Carolus Nisalhou, V.G. Diocese of Kohima be the patron. Three outstanding individuals will be conferred Peace Channel Awards during the function.
The final touches to the programme was made at the organizing committee meeting held at Holy Cross Campus on September 16,at 3:30 pm. The Meeting was attended by over 100 volunteers including teacher coordinators and students of various schools in Dimapur.

Peace prize for Sharmila

2010-09-12T01:22:00.001-07:00

Rights crusader to use cash for deliverance of justice

Irom Sharmila with the Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize conferred on her by representatives of Indian Institute of Planning and Management, New Delhi, in Imphal on Saturday. (PTI)

Imphal, Sept. 12 : A Delhi-based business school today conferred Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize on rights crusader Irom Sharmila, now in judicial custody, in recognition of her courage in peaceful struggle for peace and justice.

The award, carrying a gold medal, a citation and a sum of Rs 51 lakh, was handed over by a three-member delegation from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) to Sharmila, who has been on fast for almost a decade, in her room at the security ward of the government-run Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital at Porompat in Imphal East today.

“I do not want any award. My fight is not for awards or money. My struggle is for peace and justice. I will not be happy until my goal is achieved,” Sharmila said.

Sharmila is the first person to receive the award that was instituted two years ago by the IIPM.

She remained seated quietly on her bed when the team entered and informed her about the award.

As tears rolled down her cheeks, she said: “I want the cash award to be used in delivering justice and punishing the criminals. I want the creation of an international fund by an international body for dispensing justice and I want to donate the cash award to such a fund.”

Sharmila began her fast-unto-death, demanding scrapping of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, from November 2, 2000, after troops of the Assam Rifles gunned down 10 civilians at Malom in Imphal West in retaliation to a militant attack on an Assam Rifles patrol the same day. Since then, she has been continuing the fast and survives on forced nasal feeding in judicial custody.

The award comes as Just Peace Foundation, Imphal, is holding campaigns to mark the countdown of a decade of Sharmila’s hunger strike. The countdown that began on July 25 will culminate with a cultural programme, Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace, to be held here from November 2 to 6. The programme will begin with an exhibition of paintings on Sharmila. About 12 local artists are now painting Sharmila’s pictures on the theme, Spirit of Sharmila.

The founder director of the IIPM, M.K. Chaudhuri, told reporters that the institute had selected Sharmila for the award because of her courage and determination to continue such a long struggle in a peaceful manner.

“Sharmila is a unique Indian woman. Our institute will continue to extend moral support to her cause,” Chaudhuri, who heads the delegation, said.

Sharmila’s elder brother Irom Singhajit, who was also present on the occasion, said awards for Sharmila did not bring happiness to their family. “We want all citizens of India join the campaign against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and ensure that it is scrapped,” Singhajit, who is the managing trustee of Just Peace Foundation, said.

My howling Mashangva experience

2010-09-12T01:08:00.001-07:00

TRUNCATED FROM the maddening crowd of Delhi is a greenbelt where its essence of natural tranquility reminds me of my hilly hometown of Bishenpur. A momentary stroll down the serpentine roads across the lush-green campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi is an incredible delight as it offers me the contentment of my long-lost Manipur days. My recent visit to the campus on August 21, 2010 was not only to touch the greenery but also feel the spirits of my far and away homeland through the music of Guru Ruben Mashangva, Imphal Talkies N Howlers, HR Experience and H Kom (Stoney).

I was late to the musical event titled ‘Shared Solace’ held at the School of Social Science 1 Auditorium, JNU under the philanthropic efforts of Burning Voices supported by Manipur Research Forum Delhi (MRFD) and E-pao. Amid the leafy arcadia of the campus I kept running for awhile in search of the auditorium where the musical event was staged. Fresh raindrops still clawed on tips of tree leaves after a sudden downpour. Sweet smell of mud I felt was from the rain-soaked red soil lying on roadsides. What fascinated me in the scene also included the western horizon painted in crimson of April sunset, appearing partially through tree boughs.

With a little help from my friends via mobile phones, I finally entered the auditorium, abandoning the serenity of the campus. I regretted missing the first half of the historic musical execution, which was unveiled in a perfect way to deliver a message of love, peace and unity to the people of my turmoil-hit Manipur. No matter how much I know about Tangkhul (Naga) folk music, but what Ruben crooned at the show touched my emotion deep inside, reminding me of those winter mornings I woke up to the sound of songs which wind brought down from the hill of Parengba during Christmas.

Parengba is a small Kabui village located on a hilltop, approximately three kilometers away from my Bishenpur home. Many lads from the village were in my class when I was in elementary school. They often told me stories about the ways Parengba and other neighbouring villages like Chingning Khun, Nungsai and Thangning Khun conduct musical sessions on Christmas nights. It was the soul stirring folk songs played in rhythm of a single-string instrument (a pena kind) that broke the eerie of mid-winter nights bathing in cold midnight dew. I sometimes left open my bedroom window to let in the harmonious wail that dragged me away from ordinary ecstasy of Christmas carol to a more abstract imaginary of folk tune.

‘Shared Solace’ was my first event seeing Mashangva performed live on stage along with his nine-year-old son Saka Mashangva. I have already heard uproar among many folk purists praising the significance of Mashangva’s music. But my maiden experience of his music at ‘Shared Solace’ was something else beyond what I expected from him. In fact, my knowledge of music is not mature enough to give proper appreciation of Mashangva’s songs. His music is perhaps a discovery of the finest facet of our homegrown tune which had been buried unnoticed for a long time.

Mashangva’s songs have to be understood in terms of its autonomy and ability to transcend time and place.

Moreover, ‘Shared Solace’ developed the buoyancy of widespread creation of new genres and ensembles through cross-cultural interactions in some forms or others based on the emulation of Manipuri rock music. Songs of Ronid (Akhu) Chingangbam, front man of Imphal Talkies N Howlers, imparted to a new standard in the realm of contemporary rock music. His folk rock-centric howl modeling on Bob Dylan marked a bottom line far removed from the occasional and sporadic fashion of conventional Manipuri music. The band’s lineup is energetically arrayed with Thingnam Sanjeev on lead guitars and bassist Raju Athokpam who extensively play big roles to churn out nerve racking protest songs viz. When The Home Is Burning, The Ghost Of Machang Lalung, Freedom among others that enthralled the crowd at ‘Shared Solace’.

Emerged as an exponent in the scene of Manipuri folk rock, Ronid has a gamut of songs in Meeteilon (regional language) under his belt, each of them drew from the influences including blues, soul, alternative and some rock n’ roll. His distinctive delivery of a Lai Haraoba (Manipuri folk) song fusing with blues in an alternative lyrics at the onset of ‘Shared Solace’ simply proved a characteristic contentment in the music of Imphal Talkies N Howlers. In the similar line was H Kom (Stoney) who delivered (boar hunting) Kom folk song composed in a refined blend with popular R&B tune.

After all, my earnest assumption is that ‘Shared Solace’ couldn’t have reached its crescendo without HR Experience. Loosely inspired by Jimmy Hendrix Experience, output of HR Experience was an amalgamation of different inputs thoroughly overhauled as a result of blues combined with free jazz, by rejecting the normative jazz practices.

Those who lately discovered the band lineup of HR Experience at the end of the event were astounded to see the new avatar of Manipur rock music. Of course, lead guitarist Chongtham Vikram and bassist R K Raju of HR Experience need no introduction if you are in the league of those who have been revolved around the Manipuri rock scene over the last two decades.

Vikaram and Raju had played pivotal roles to write success stories of several current and erstwhile rock bands including Cannibals, Phoenix, Eastern Dark and others across the region. Further, perceptible in HR Experience is its young and enthusiastic drummer, Aditya Singh. I have seen a couple of HR Experience concerts so far in which Aditya did magic, often taking unusual instrumental sounds as the basis of timeless jazz techniques sculpted with distorted conventional rock and roll. Overall concepts and performances I found at ‘Shared Solace’ forecasted a generation of would-be professionals in Manipuri music world.

This is not the end of my story as well as ‘Shared Solace’. What it took to make the musical extravaganza a complete affair was the premier screening of Songs of Mashangva, a documentary film by Oinam Doren, based on the life and works of Mangshava. The film depicts unique components of multiple trans-cultural interactions of folk music and its dynamic influences on social development. During his documentary filmmaking career, Doren is known for new milestones in cross-cultural exploration of North East Indian music.

Giving peace a peace march to unite hill and valley, ‘Shared Solace’ developed a wide variety of dynamism in the forms of music. The event really set new development in context of social, ideological and cultural similarities, and to understand sharing spaces among different communities as integral to the history and tradition of Manipur. Hope such event would someday help rebuild the common roof for all of us!

Source: Citizen Journalism News Platform – MeriNews

Club revives bamboo art

2010-09-10T23:24:00.001-07:00

Money and market hurdles to youth training scheme
RIPUNJOY DAS

Sivasagar, Sep 11 : A village that held on its tradition of exquisite bamboo art till hunger got in the way is scripting a revival.

Till a few years ago, almost every home in Bamunpukhuri Chariali, some 25km from here, would have a little pile of processed bamboo to be moulded into artefacts.

But grinding poverty forced most craftsmen to abandon their age-old trade and migrate in search of work and food.

Most found sustenance as daily wage labourers, earning Rs 100 a day.

A farmers’ club in the village is now coaxing the artisans to return and train youths to revive their art.

The Swaraj Farmers Club, with Suren Sarma as president and Hemanta Sarma as secretary, was formed in March, 2006, under the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development’s farmer’s club scheme.

“Convincing the villagers to co-operate to revive the art was not an easy task. Most of them had quit the profession altogether. We invited the expert craftsmen of the locality to train the local youth during a 15-day preliminary training,” said Hemanta.

A group of 25 youths, including three women, took part in the bamboo training that concluded on August 25.

“The trainees learnt how to make bamboo tea strainers, incense sticks, flower pots, miniature bamboo artefacts and other products of day-to-day use. We also plan to train them in making high-end bamboo products in the next phase,” the secretary said.

Hemanta was encouraged to rope in the artisans after Nabard supported a plan to send the trainees to Haryana in July.

The group was able to get orders of 2,000 bamboo tea strainers during their visit.

Shortage of funds, however, remains a concern.

“Local experts are hesitant to provide training as they earn more working as daily wage labourers or in other occupations. Moreover, we need money to buy bamboo for the training sessions. Non-availability of a market for the finished products is also a cause for concern,” Hemanta said.

A rural mart, that will open in Sivasagar town shortly, may give this endeavour a ready market.

Racist Churchill let millions of Indians starve

2010-09-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI — British prime minister Winston Churchill deliberately let millions of Indians starve to death, the author of a new book has claimed, alleging he was motivated in part by racial hatred.

As many as three million people died in the Bengal famine of 1943 after Japan captured neighbouring Burma -- a major source of rice imports -- and British colonial rulers in India stockpiled food for soldiers and war workers.

Panic-buying of rice sent prices soaring, and distribution channels were wrecked when officials confiscated or destroyed most boats and bullock carts in Bengal to stop them falling into enemy hands if Japan invaded.

Rice suddenly became scarce in markets and, as worsening hunger spread through villages, Churchill repeatedly refused pleas for emergency food shipments.
Emaciated masses drifted into Kolkata, where eye-witnesses described men fighting over foul scraps and skeletal mothers dying in the streets as British and middle-class Indians ate large meals in their clubs or at home.

Story continues below...

The "man-made" famine has long been one of the darkest chapters of the British Raj, but now Madhusree Mukerjee says she has uncovered evidence that Churchill was directly responsible for the appalling suffering.
Her book, "Churchill's Secret War", quotes previously unused papers that disprove his claim that no ships could be spared from the war and that show him brushing aside increasingly desperate requests from British officials in India.
Analysis of World War II cabinet meetings, forgotten ministry records and personal archives show that full grain ships from Australia were passing India on their way to the Mediterranean region, where huge stockpiles were building up.
"It wasn't a question of Churchill being inept: sending relief to Bengal was raised repeatedly and he and his close associates thwarted every effort," Mukerjee told AFP in a telephone interview.
"The United States and Australia offered to send help but couldn't because the war cabinet was not willing to release ships. And when the US offered to send grain on its own ships, that offer was not followed up by the British."
Churchill's record as a war leader against Nazi Germany has secured his place in history, but his attitude towards Indians attracts less admiration.
"He said awful things about Indians. He told his secretary he wished they could be bombed," Mukerjee said. "He was furious with Indians because he could see America would not let British rule in India continue."
Churchill derided Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi as a lawyer posing as a "half-naked" holy man, and replied to British officials in India who pleaded for food supplies by asking why Gandhi had not yet died.
"I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion," he told Leo Amery, the secretary of state for India. Another time he accused Indians of effectively causing the famine by "breeding like rabbits."
Amery once lost his temper after one rant by the prime minister, telling Churchill that he could not "see much difference between his outlook and Hitler's."
Amery wrote in his diary: "I am by no means sure whether on this subject of India he is really quite sane."
Mukerjee believes Churchill's views on India, where he served as a young army officer, came from his Victorian upbringing. Like his father, he saw India as the fundamental jewel in the crown of the British empire.
"Winston's racist hatred was due to his loving the empire in the way a jealous husband loves his trophy wife: he would rather destroy it than let it go," said Mukerjee.
Mukerjee's book has been hailed as a ground-breaking achievement which unearths new information despite the hundreds of volumes already written on Churchill's life.
Eminent British historian Max Hastings has described it as "significant -- and to British readers -- distressing."
Author Ramachandra Guha said it provided "for the first time, definitive evidence of how a great man?s prejudices contributed to one of the most deadly famines in modern history."
Mukerjee attributes the book's revelations to her training as a physicist.
"People suspected that something like this happened but no one really went through the evidence properly to find out what the ships were doing at the time, proving that grain could have been taken to India," she said.
"I didn't set out to target Churchill. I set out to understand the famine and I slowly discovered his part in it.
"The famine, you could argue, was partly a deliberate act. India was forced to export grain in the early years of war and in 1943 was exporting rice at Churchill's personal insistence. Britain ruthlessly exploited India during war and didn't let up even when famine started."
Mukerjee, a 49-year-old Bengali who now lives in Frankfurt with her German husband, believes the Bengal famine has also been air-brushed from Indian history books.
"I was never taught about it in school and my parents never mentioned it," she said. "There's middle-class guilt as they were employed in professions that meant they received rations. But villagers were considered dispensable."
Seven years of working on the book, and of hearing gruelling tales from famine survivors whom she tracked down in remote villages, have left Mukerjee with a harsh opinion of Churchill.
"He is often criticised for bombing German cities but has never before been held directly responsible for the deaths of so many people as in the Bengal famine. It was the greatest stain on his career."
"I find it very hard to be open-minded about him now," she said. "After all, he would have thought that I am not worth the food I eat."

A new phenomenon called 'young adult' fiction!

2010-09-08T23:23:00.001-07:00

Young adult literature in India is surprisingly prolific and publishers are vying to bring out high quality well-written and original new fiction in this segment, feel contemporary writers.

From this year, Vodafone Crossword started awards for the children's section too and entries are works of children and teenage prose fiction or non-fiction.

According to Shreekumar Varma, whose "The Magic Store of Nu-Cham-Vu" has been shortlisted for the Crossword award (Children's Award category), writers as well as publishers are taking young adult fiction seriously.

"When I was in Delhi a couple of months ago, I found there's so much more coming up for young adults. It has become a big market. The upside is that young readers are turning to books by Indian authors. The trend was to say 'we never read Indian authors, don't find anyone interesting'. Now a whole new genre has come into being in Indian publishing. I believe that's going to be a very strong focus from now," he said.

Varma says he is almost jealous of the young adult reader who is "getting things we never dreamed of".

For Shoba Naidu, modern young adult literature in India is in its infancy but is growing.

"There is still a dependency on the West for modern stories to interest this segment. Books for young adults rooted in Indian culture and ethos about growing up pains in the Indian milieu written by Indian writers are few and far between," the author of "On the Yeti's Trail" says.

"Publishers and writers are now realising that there is readership for young adult fiction. Indian publishers such as CBT and NBT were among the first to bring out fiction targeted at adolescents. Now, apart from small independent publishers, a few mainstream publishers like now Rupa, Puffin and Popular Prakashan among others are turning to this genre."

Monideepa Sahu, author of the fantasy novel "Riddle of the Seventh Stone", sees a phenomenal growth in the young adult literature in English segment in the past few years.

"New authors like me are being encouraged and efforts are being made by the Children's Book Trust, and events such as Jumpstart and Bookaroo, an annual children's book festival held every November in New Delhi, are also drumming up more interest in books for young readers. As for writers, we always took young adult fiction most seriously," she says.

"Desi young adult fiction so long was more a clumsy attempt between juvenile chick-lit and over-mature kiddie books, so the new crop is welcome. Vampires, ha-ha books and adventures are upon us and not a bit too late," says Bangalore-based author Shinie Antony.

According to 'She's a Jolly Good Fellow' author Sajita Nair, although young adult books are primarily aimed at teens, they are also enjoyed by people in their late twenties or older.

"In India, the demand for young adult fiction is on the rise and publishers are now plugging the gap by commissioning new writers catering to this age group," she says.

Nair, however, says "She's a Jolly Good Fellow" is not exactly young adult fiction as it does not target the teens.

"It addresses issues that concern young working professionals. 'She's a Jolly Good Fellow' is a hilarious yet thought provoking story of two young women officers trying to find their place in the male dominated Indian army. The novel follows their lives as they overcome odds in trying to prove to their male counterparts that they too are assets to the army.

"Due to its unique backdrop and storyline, this book appeals to a large cross section of readers. Young women especially, find it inspirational since it is about women fighting battles and making their mark in a man's world."

Varma says the age group that young adult fiction writers generally target can't be generalised.

"Once you pick a target group you tend to stay with that. I address both groups-- in the sense I write novels, stories and plays for adults as well as youngsters. But there is an 8 to 13 group and a 14 to 18 group. Of course, there are overlaps.

"Writers used to write exclusively for the younger group, but now there is a definite and very exciting readership of young adults. Which is bound to get very, very big in the coming years. so even if the writers are older people like me, if you can manage to connect with that segment, it's great," he says.

Sahu says she writes stories that enthral her, and enjoy playing with new ideas, bringing out their multiple facets and nuances.

"It's about writing the story I believe in, and not about producing something solely because it may attract a market or age group."

According to Nair, young adult Indians are a confident lot who take pride in being Indian.

"It has suddenly become 'cool' to be Indian and embrace everything Indian - be it watching Bollywood movies, wearing Indian clothes, reading Indian authors or participating actively in the growth of India. They are a smart generation with great vision who settle for nothing but the best," she says.

Can Rahul do a Niyamgiri in the Northeast?

2010-09-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

Last week, Rahul Gandhi offered to become “a soldier in Delhi” for the Dongria Kondhs, an endangered tribe fighting to stop bauxite mining project on the Niyamgiri hills in western Orissa.
The tribals say the project, if allowed, will destroy their livelihood, which has been tied to natural resources of the Niyamgiri hills for centuries. Proponents of the project, which is critical to the success of a giant alumina plant being built downhill by UK-based Vedanta Resources, say it will help industrialise, and bring prosperity to, the impoverished state of Orissa. Neither the protests nor the state government’s push for the project is unique. This is a fight raging across the country as new India seeks a stronger foothold on the global economic landscape. What is unique to Niyamgiri is the stand taken by a political leader of the stature of Rahul Gandhi and the speed with which the central government acted in denying clearance to the project.
It could mark the beginning of a major shift in the ruling Congress party’s stance on tribal rights and land acquisition.
Rahul’s vow at last week’s rally of the Dongria Kondhs has “sent out a clear message across the party,” said Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who had dropped by our office hours before I got to writing this blog. Singh was candid: “Congress party realises that you can’t fight the Maoists unless you have the people on your side.” Decades of neglect have alienated the tribals, and in Singh’s words “times have changed. They are getting assertive.”
That said, it’s going to be a long haul before Rahul Gandhi can change the course. Because, his stance is in direct conflict with basic tenets of the neo-liberal economic regime that the UPA government wants to usher in.
The Dongria Kondhs have been lucky because their fight involved a global company and thus made headlines everywhere. Unlike them, scores of tribal groups elsewhere in the country — from idu mushmi’s of Arunachal Pradesh to the Koyas of Dandakaranya forests spanning Orissa and Andhra Pradesh — are waging similar fights for livelihood that remain voiceless.
There are plans to build some 168 hydroelectric dams in Arunachal Pradesh and generate 68,000 MW of electricity to power factories in other parts of the country. Construction work has already begun 115 projects, without any consent from tribal communities, which own the forests that will be destroyed by these projects.
This network of dams will also have devastating consequences for Assam and Bangladesh. Already, the issue is acquire political overtones in Assam. The dams not only threaten livelihood of the tribals but also risk to their life and security as these are being built in what is considered a region of intense seismic activity.
Yet, the ongoing protests in the northeast are rarely talked about in Delhi. If the backlash from the tribals in this region really gets out of hand, the consequences would be more disastrous than what we have seen in the Maoist-affected states.
For the Congress, the rising discontent in the northeast is as much a challenge as an opportunity to regain the ground it lost out to political opponents through the past two decades. It is time, Rahul does a Niyamgiri there.

via http://blogs.hindustantimes.com

Religious twist to ethnic issue

2010-09-01T03:51:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, Sep 1 : The BJP today gave a sectarian twist to the Naga-Meitei equation with Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay pitting “Nagaland for Christ” against “our Vaishnavite brothers” in Manipur.

The BJP MP, a former editor of Panchajanya, the RSS mouthpiece, raised the issue of the economic blockade by Naga organisations on National Highways 39 and 53 and the resultant rise in prices in Manipur valley.

The issue has been raised at the forum earlier, too, but Vijay’s line of thought seemed particularly divisive, a fact that only adds to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s worries. Only last week, at a conference of directors-general of police, Singh had expressed concern over the increasing identity-based assertiveness in the region with particular emphasis on the Naga-Meitei relationship.

The tribals in the hills of Manipur are mostly Christians while the predominant Meitei population in the valley is Hindu. The relationship may have been facing challenges but it is mostly on the political issue of land and is rarely seen in the light of religious divide.

“The United Council of Nagaland (he perhaps meant the United Naga Council) has the support of NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and their slogan is the sectarian ‘Nagaland for Christ’. Due to this our Vaishnav brothers in Manipur are living in the shadow of fear,” Vijay said.

A Manipur minister from the Meitei community said the Nagas used to be alienated primarily because of the practice of untouchability during the days of monarchy. Neither in Nagaland nor in the Naga-dominated hills of Manipur were they differentiated on the basis of religion.

India Today does not know Manipur and Mizoram are two different states in India

2010-08-30T21:57:00.001-07:00

While it is routinely accused that central government treats its North East part of India step-motherly, recently Indian national media is also accused of ignoring news related to North East India. Also, it is quite common in North East India that, people in ‘mainland’ India are ignorant about this part of India.

Aroon Purie thinks Manipur is Mizoram

In recent edition of India Today (September 6, 2010), such ignorance has been noticed where Aroon Purie, ‘The Editor’ in chief and ‘Editor At Large’ uses Manipur and Mizoram interchangeably! When a reputed publication like India today makes such mistake, it is quite understandable that, national media ignores North East routinely! In its editorial, Aroon Purie writes, “In Manipur, the state has banned citizens from buying a car unless they have residential parking”, while Ravi Shankar writes ” the Mizoram government has decreed that only those with garages may own cars”, on page 41.

Correct News on Mizoram

more here from northeastblog.in

Economic blockade affects traffic movement to Arunachal

2010-08-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Dibrugarh, Aug 25 : Vehicles were stranded on both sides of the border by a 12-hour blockade today on the Margherita-Changlang Road, the only one, linking land-locked Arunachal Pradesh from the upper Assam side.

The blockade to protest alleged attempts by Arunachal Pradesh to encroach on land in Assam and violence by the NSCN-IM had been initially called for 72 hours, but was reduced to 12 hours considering hardship to the people, ULFA pro-talk group's Secretary Jiten Dutta told PTI.

"If Arunachal continues to support the Greater Nagalim demand of the NSCN-IM, then its indigenous Adi, Khampti and Misimi ethnic groups who were never a part of Nagaland will lose their distinct identity," Dutta warned. Reacting to NSCN(IM)'s warning that the economic blockade be lifted by today or else Assamese people residing in Arunachal Pradesh would be attacked, Dutta said, "If the threat is carried out, we will also not spare the Nagas living in Assam."

Dutta appealed to the Central and Arunachal Pradesh governments to evict NSCN-IM from camps in Tirap and Changlang districts of that state. He also asked people and student unions to be vigilant against the 'Greater Nagalim' demand by the NSCN-IM.

The pro-talk group's chairman Mrinal Hazarika said "NSCN(IM) cadre who are supposed to stay in designated camps have broken the ceasefire rules and are moving about freely with arms. The Centre should control them".

The blockade was also called to demand steps by Centre for immediately halting NSCN-IM and other elements trying to occupy land in Assam for Greater Nagalim. NSCN(IM) militants and a section of people in Arunachal Pradesh have engaged in sporadic incidents of violence.

They exchanged fire with security forces in Assam on August 14 at Charaipung and Bimalapur in Sibsagar district.

'Informed farmers vital to food security'

2010-08-25T06:23:00.001-07:00

Agartala, Aug 25 : To achieve food security, scientific research-oriented farming, propagation of latest global information among the farmers and suitable policy research are very vital, experts and scientists said here Tuesday.

"It is extremely crucial to evaluate the potential of genetically-modified (GM) crops as these are nutrient-enriched, drought-resistant and disease-resistant varieties," said Washington based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Director Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere.

While addressing an international conference on "Agriculture education and knowledge management" organised by IGNOU and IFPRI, Asenso-Okyere said: "On Bt Brinjal issue, everybody should be guided by science, not by sentiments or emotions."

The IFPRI chief said that the debate on Bt Brinjal is "not full-fledged and mature". "We should take all scientific facts before going into the debate on the issue."

"Evidence on the potential benefits and risks is needed by all stakeholders, including NGOs, governments, scientists, and more importantly, consumers and producers. Ultimately, regulatory bodies should ensure that the products are safe to humans, animals and the environment," Asenso-Okyere said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the conference being attended by over 120 agricultural scientists, experts, delegates from India and abroad, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, the US and Nairobi.

The conference is expected to go a long way in evolving integrated strategies to achieve food security and sustainable development in India, specially in the northeast region.

The IFPRI director said that most people do not know what is good food and what is good for health. "Malnutrition is a critical part of human life. Breast milk is the best nutrient food for children."

IGNOU's School of Agriculture (SOA) senior professor B.S. Hansra said: "The IGNOU is the largest Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution in the world. It (IGNOU) is spreading the latest global information on farming and agriculture to farmers in remote places in India."

He said: "The focus of the conference is to share experiences on the challenges faced by the agriculture educational system in managing indigenous knowledge as well as knowledge generated by research and educational institutes for innovative agriculture."

According to Hansra, three million students study in IGNOU and they will take the latest information to farmers across the country.

The main objectives of the conference are: to discuss various approaches and models of agricultural education for strengthening capacity of professionals, researchers and educators, discuss the role of effective knowledge management systems for socio-economic development of agricultural sector.

It is also to identify suitable pedagogic approaches and curriculum to educate farmers, upgrade their technical and entrepreneurial knowledge and analytical skills and to develop knowledge management strategies through cost-effective and efficient approaches, public-private-NGO partnerships, business models and delivery mechanisms.

BJP MLA's son attacked Pastor in Delhi

2010-08-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

A mob of about 150 led by a BJP MLA’s son attacked a pastor and church in Qutabgarh in East West Delhi August 23, it was informed today.

The All India Christian Council said one Biju, son of one Chanram, a Bharatiya Janta Party MLA led a crowd, believed to be members of Hindutva fanatics in attacking Pastor Isaac Jaal.

The pastor was returning home after conducting a Sunday prayer service in the church, the AICC said. The said Biju and the crowd came with ‘lethal sticks’ and “trisuls” (Hindu tridents).

The mob assaulted Pastor Isaac and also threatened him with dire consequences if he continued to conduct prayer meetings in the church. The pastor suffered internal injuries.

The police came later but did not take him to the hospital for medical treatment or even for examination.

Rev. Dr. Abraham Sahu, Delhi NCR Chapter President of All India Christian Council reported the matter to the local police and appealed for the safety and protection of the pastor and church members. A written complaint to the local police was given but no First Information Report (FIR) was registered and no action taken, AICC said.

A team of AICC members said to be way to meet Pastor Isaac and then to the police authorities to appeal for the registration of the complaint and take action against the criminals.

“The fear is being spread among Christian minorities across the nation including national capital by the organized attacks by the Hindutva fundamentalists.

The law enforcement authorities must ensure the freedom of rights, equality and protection must be provided to all communities, particularly the Christian minorities who have been targeted currently by the fanatic groups,” the AICC said.

Ethos of the Welcome-Warriors of The Assam Rifles

2010-08-22T03:23:00.001-07:00

Guardians of the Dawn, Sentinels of the East, Poorab ke Rakshak, Friends of the Hill People, what ever; the Assam Rifles; as the only Para-military Force, or one of the Central Police Organisations (CPOs); has been a harbinger of peace and stability since inception in 1835! Now deployed from the India/Tibet/Burma (Mynamar) Tri- Junction to Haiti (MINUSTAH) with strong presences in J&K and Op “Pawan”, earlier; the AR has made a name for itself, on its own steam. And, grudgingly earned accolades even from the Army formation commanders who press it very hard during war, and some of whom, deride it in whilst in the bar.
I’ve seen the Assam Rifles’ lads in the Lohit Frontier division of NEFA in 1970, seen them in north Sikkim, Manipur and Nagaland. I’ve lived with them in Mizoram (1982-84) 19, 1, 6 ,18, ARs, HQ MRR. I’ve commanded them, 19 AR from Serchchip
They carried me most of the time, but when I was leaving, what a farewell!! The photo album will be cherished even my great- great- grand-children. My Gayatri was born in my unit hospital way back in 1982: they sent two boys in 2008 for her wedding, even though, by then only Sub Maj Digari had seen me ever in flesh and blood! What affection even after so many decades! What loyalty whilst in command! What fighting spirit whilst in operations! What map-reading———they could give me a ten figure grid reference of any landmark just by looking at the ground!! ha ha.What intelligence! I knew what was being cooked in each and every kapu-house for miles around.
Capt PR Sangam ( ASC to Sikh) was my Adjutant ( in-fact, defacto Commandant, actually).Live wire.
Fluent in Punjabi, picked up Gorkhali, and also mizo-ton in 19 AR. Every where the whole day also, night. Regular nulla- rem ( only hob-nobbing, nothing more)with the local kappis and UG-grass widows——-the best sources for actionable live intelligence. He, now is, Commander PC Wing, in the rank of Brigadier. Commanded 2 Sikh, got them the Army Chief’s Banner for Best Battalion! Later was also commandant of an AR battalion in Nagalaland. In between, volunteered and went on the Dakshin Gangotri expedition to the Antartica! Some guy. Some spirit. Terrific!!
Op Zebra, a classic case study of unorthodox special missions, even as of date, in CIJWS, Vairengte . Five chaps. One Kumaoni, one Garhwali, one Rengma-Naga, one Gurkha, one Mizo. ALL 19 AR. All-alone, masquerading as the so-called MNA troopers, for over six weeks. They located and then shot dead the so called SS battalion commander and his adjutant in his hide-out in north Mizoram———they had been tasked to bump off only the battalion commander! What initiative! What exploitation of success! What guile; what cunning! They had gone around saying that they were carrying a missive from the SS C-in-C Tawnluia for the SS battalion commander, so please take us to him, in his lair! Three decorations; one Kirti Chakra ( Kalyan Singh Kanyal) two Shaurya Chakras ( Rengma & Pembe Lama; the second mentioned was picked up as his SM by the then DG AR, Lt Gen Mike Lahiri. Mike swore by him!! I swore by him. He could run the 2 Miles BPET as the offg SM, in 10 Minutes flat!….He is on the cover of one of the Custodians. ) !!! Many DGAR awards for Zebra . Absolutely, No ill will. The poor and humble jhoom- farmer-kappus-were overwhelmed with gratitude; you see these UGs had been really sponging off them! Kalyan Singh & Co won their hearts and mind in rapid fire from their carbines! The Mrs Elizabeth Batten-Court saga of 2009, regarding her helicopter rescue from the FARC guerillas, by the Colombian Army, in the Amazon rain forests of South America, is not a patch on Zebra.
Winning hearts and minds is the main stamp of AR ops. So different from the ham-handed and ponderous ways of the IA in CI ops, the ISAF, the NATO. Sacked-Mchrystal, and his successor, the thinking- philosopher C-in- C Afghanistan; Gen Petreaus; the US-Top-gun in Iraq—Oderino,———- Dubya Bush, Barak Obama, Karzai, and that cocky retired Brig Ponwar of the CRPF School in Chattisgarh, the lot could learn a lot from suave and slick exploits of The Force; any day. Also the CRPF, its elite Cobras, the AP Grey Hounds, et tall , have some thing to really gain, and profit, should they be able to pick up a trick or two from the Assam Rifles.
The AR-ops precipitate no collateral damage! Not even interrogation centres like the ones that have given the US such a bad name now. Actually the AR intelligence boys recognize every one all around even from behind at 500 meters. They do not really have to resort to interrogation-‘techniques’. They declare a suspect black only when very sure, which they are most of the time, having lived with the locals over the decades. One cannot ask them to declare grey as black. Or, white as grey. Black is black, no matter how much of the pressure of formation commanders, the Commandant has to put up with. They care two hoots for the ‘ketch-up’ colonels, any way!
The Infantry School commandant; when I was with the Platoon Commander’s Wing; was terribly worked-up and annoyed with me; one of his SIs; when he heard me say to the PC course JCO students that they should go and see AR JCOs any where, any time, and see what shouldering responsibility means, what initiative should be in war and peace, what leadership means at the sub-unit level, in operations. The sturdy AR JCOs get construction work of barracks, stitching of uniforms in unit family welfare centers , education of the unit wives, running of unit cinema halls etc all on shoe-string budgets. Truly remarkable: their versatility! What is most commendable is that that they learn doing all this, whilst on-the job! No formal training is imparted, which is also the case for gathering intelligence, interrogation, running arra-machine-saws, improvising river crossing expedients, at which they are past-masters! They learn it the hard way—sweat and guts; guts and blood; blood and sweat. They receive and brief visiting army brass fully, on all aspects, all at the drop of a hat. And they are as tough as nails. Real hard-boiled soldiers. Conduct live grenade firing! What not and what not. They; however, cannot do opposed river crossing, out-flanking moves along with mechanized columns, call in close air support, or even amphibious landings. This is mainly because all these do not come in the ambit of their mandate. Get them into CI ops. Leave them to their devices. You cannot touch them! And what is more it is they who hold the keys to Command.

Attention! “Click Here if you have problems viewing the images“
The MT drivers are matchless and very daring, also very careful at the same time; the signal communications always through; they will get you even Capt Kirk of space-ship Enterprise in inter-stellar space, patching up all along, in all kinds of weather. What overland communications. The entire 82 Mtn Bde counted only on the 2AR maar boats to cross the mighty and monsoon-swollen Brahamputra in Upper-Assam. They counted only on the 2AR elephants to ford the raging mountain torrent Digaru, in the north bank! They counted on the AR wing in Kibithoo to ‘look after’ six IA soldiers, deployed as EW elements, all by themselves in Dichu, which is no where from no where, bang on the Indo-Tibetan IB right opposite the PLA Regiment in Rima.
Mike Lahiri was our CO. He had played for the India first eleven football team. He was a Ranger-course Rambo, ex-USA. He played for the battalion football team even as a CO in NEFA. 2AR CO also had played, but only for the company team. Friendly match was organised. 2 AR beat 4/3rd 3:0! Angry Mike arranged a return match. Score; 4/3rd lost 0:4!!! And the 2AR CO got on to the field only as a token gesture for five minutes!( Mike lead the 4/3rd team to victory in the 39 GTC Football Championship, cutting short the SO course he was on. He got a straight Alpha on that too, like in all the others! )
The 2 AR QG sentry was barely visible from the road, only his greased lightening-like and cracking salami- shastra was heard when ever any of us passed by. What snappy drill movements!
Was a member of a GCM trying a 2 AR gurkha lad for man-slaughter.2AR had made all administrative arrangements including providing a babu-typist in attendance. He typed as the court deliberated, straight from the horses’ mouth on to the Querty. No drafts. Produced the typed proceedings even whilst we were deciding on the sentence! What speed. What ear to the ground. What concentration.
The much fabled Maharaja Long Range Patrol (LRP) of 4/3 GR, when Mike Lahiri was CO in Lohitpur (NEFA) has gone into the various documents in New Delhi’s United Services’ Institute (USI).
Lead by Capt Ravindra Mishra, with Sub Bel Bhadur Pun as his 2iC; it traversed the uncharted, unmapped, and unfrequented and non-vapid primary rain-forested wastes on the India-Tibet-Burma Tri-junction (Emra Valley) for over three months. For their reconnaissance of this un-Godly terrain, both the patrol leader and his 2-i-C, earned the USI’s prestigious MacGregor Medals; the only time one single mission has earned it for two members! Three personnel of 2 AR were part of this LRP : Rfn Kum Bahadur, Rfn Sher Bahadur Tamang and NK Bhuwan Singh Thapa .They were more than useful. Their knowledge of the area, local conditions, sense of improvisation were of great help. These golden traits of the AR are the hallmark of their true face-value.
When I was CO 19 AR, a relative of mine; a SP gunner, was BM ( and Brigade Patrol Master, as a result of which) of 311 Mtn Bde in Lungleh. One of his patrols lost its way and got mixed up with one of 18 AR’s ( also, in Lungleh). A few casualties. In the ensuing blame-game, blame got shifted onto the head of 18 AR CO, Lt Col Gopalaswamy, a NDA course-mate of mine and even tinier. Hardly ever spoke to my relative after this. The same guy in Mhow again. Me with PC wing, he doing the SC. Jas Ram, ex-6AR was his neighbour.
“Who is this infantry-wala muchchar?” he asked me.
“Col Jas Ram”.
“Jas Ram, who?”.
“Jas Ram, AC”.
“???..?
“Yes, Lt Col Jas Ram, Ashok Chakra, Class-1”.
“Class-1…?!!”. “That’s as good as a PVC”
“Yes Param Vir Chakra”.
Jas Ram is on Page 238. The other high awards are all listed on the same page. Period photos of AR jawans since raising as Cachar levveis (180).Stunning pictures of the virgin terrain of Arunachal, Nagaland, Sikkim: Thagla Ridge, Dhola;….the bunkers of the Rajput Battalion and elements of AR subunits on the Namka-chu, the river of silence, on 20 Oct 1962…never seen before by many, on pages 173 and 174.Bumla Battle(174/175). Kibithhoo on the Telu. And, Dichu too! Stunning visuals. Walong, the scene of a do and die battle in 1962. Dated photo-plates from hoary–history of the AR—Mary Winchester-(126) –they still talk of her in Lungleh. A very boyish Dalai Lama, crossing over to India-(167)— being received by boys of 5 AR. The gora-sahibs in Aijwal reviewing 1 AR ;1930s; ceremonial parade. What turnout! Pandit Nehru reviewing another. The Tripura palace;sphinx-chinthe. The wispy ‘V’ force of the Burma Campaign in WW-II (146/147); 3 AR: Kohima 1944 (150/151). Post independence IGARs (154).Burma Border Guards. The AR earthquake relief of 1950s (156) 1st WW Lushai Labour Corps (134/135). Morning ‘phoggy’ in Mizoram…tribal warriors. . ………..Sikh Bhangra dancers and the Mizo nullahs doing the chapchar-kutt (the bamboo dance) (111). What vibes.What sync. Balle-balle and the clap-clap of the bamboos clashing!! ………AR hospital civilian local nurses…tribal ………
Many unforgettable photo- plates. All unforgettable; All worth a thousand words each, and there are at least a hundred here in this very impressive coffee-table book!
ALL in all, this glossy show cases the unique ETHOS of The Force, ( no photos, but it’s fragrance permeates all the pages!) over the ages changed not one bit…an ethos that is one of equanimity and perseverance in the face of unending odds of terrain, the elements, neo-stone-age living conditions, and zilch, abs-zero infrastructure; the mayhem of the UGs, etc. The lads always come out on top————–:——– in their hearts , a hard-headed resolve to prevail; with smiles on their faces, and a song on their lips. Too good! Kudos to Kunal & Co. Bouquets for the DG AR.
Click For “About the Author“

Private tuition whip on Assam teachers

2010-08-13T00:26:00.001-07:00

New lessons to be learnt

Guwahati, Aug 13 : Lessons beyond the classroom may cost Assam college teachers their promotion, even salary, with Dispur drawing up a list of punitive measures against those who defy a ban on private tuition.

An Assam government official told The Telegraph that the government was working on the nature of penalties and would enforce them within the current academic year.

He said a mere ban or order would do little to contain the thriving practice of private tuition.

“Till date, the education department is in a dilemma regarding what can be done against teachers involved in private tuition. So the government wants to be categorical about penalties against those opening coaching institutes, supplying notes and going to students’ homes. Without being clear about the penalties, the issue of preventing private tuition remains vague. Officials or authorities concerned also find it difficult to take action against the erring teachers, being ignorant about the punitive provisions,” the official said.

The education department issued a circular on June 10 to all colleges and universities in the state seeking information about teachers giving lessons in private.

He said the circular would be meaningless without provisions for punitive measures.

“Education minister Gautam Bora has taken a serious note on the increasing reports of college teachers being involved in private tuition. With the government ready to de-link higher secondary classes from degree colleges, Bora wants teachers to devote time to ensure excellence in higher education rather than provide private tuition,” the official said.

The Assam College Teachers’ Association has extended support to the government in working out the penalties.

There are around 127,000 teachers in the state’s 189 provincialised colleges, five government colleges and 140 non-deficit colleges.

The number of teachers in Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University is around 700.

The general secretary of the association, Biswajit Bhuyan, said even though he does not want to generalise, there are reports that some teachers are providing tuition in private.

“Such reports have brought a bad name to this noble profession. The association wants punitive action against the erring teachers to end the controversy over tuition which is harming the education system,” Bhuyan said.

A teacher of a leading college in the city, however, said teachers cannot be held solely responsible for private tuition.

“In this age of cut-throat competition, every parent wants their children to get individual attention and hence send them to teachers for private tuition. On several occasions, teachers are requested repeatedly by parents as well as students for tuition,” he said.

The government, on its part, is doing away with the system of manual system of attendance in colleges.

“A modern attendance mechanism will be introduced to automatically register arrival and departure timings of teachers at colleges. Work is under way at Nagaon College and Sonapur College on a system which will ensure that teachers do not bunk classes for personal work,” the official said.

The government will also constitute a high-powered committee comprising legal experts, bureaucrats, teachers and academicians to take decisions on imposing penalties on teachers involved in private tuition.

The committee will inquire and verify such allegations.

“The committee will ensure that no innocent teacher is victimised by vested interest groups. There is a good number of teachers who do not support private tuition,” a source said.

Two Indian villages outside Indo-Bangladesh border fence

2010-08-12T04:17:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Aug 12 : The Government admitted in the Rajya Sabha that two Indian villages were on the other side of the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing in view of the terrain conditions, presence of hills and presence of population in the agreed Joint Boundary Guideline between the two countries.

Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran in a written answer explained that some villages had to be left ahead of fencing but within zero line at the International Border and sufficient gates were provided at regular intervals for allowing easy movement of villagers as per the standard operating procedures by the BSF in consultation with the village panchayats and local villagers.

He said the Government was aware of the problems faced by the villagers because of the border fencing along the Indo-Bangla border and steps were taken to assist villagers and financial assistance were given to them to construct alternate houses under Indira Awas Yojana within the fence.

Alignment of fencing was being changed so as to keep the village population in the fencing. The Government had provided funds for 7,744 houses in Tripura and 186 houses in Assam.

Bamboo items a big draw

2010-08-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

Olympia Shilpa Gerald

North East artisans exhibit craftsmanship at handloom fair

— Photo: M.Moorthy

brisk business: Visitors at the crafts fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development in Tiruchi. TIRUCHI: Artisans from the seven sisters of North East India are in town to entice denizens with the brilliance of their craftsmanship. The North East Crafts Fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited is a testimony to the excellence of the craftsmen, especially their wonders wrought from cane and bamboo.
The highlight of the fair according to D.Ravi, exhibition-in-charge, is the intricate cane and bamboo furniture which occupies a considerable portion of the display. The ambit includes julas, garden chairs, modas and a knitting sofa set wrought in bamboo priced at Rs.30,000. Placed strategically are the charming dried- flowers and leaves from Nagaland, starting from Rs.10 per stalk.
Assam with the lion's share of the display has jute bags, pencil holders, hair clips, key chains, bangles and exquisitely woven shawls paraded in neatly-laid stalls. From Tripura are brightly-dyed bamboo blinds, bamboo root carvings and fan-shaped wall hangings. Bamboo flower vases and pot stands twisted into attractive shapes from Arunachal Pradesh add to the appeal.
While fine Manipur silk and cotton shawls are appealing, tiffin boxes and lamp shades fashioned from bamboo bark from Meghalaya niftily combine aesthetics with utility.
Though the North-East holds its own, other states make their presence felt in the form of cushion covers and wall hangings embellished with kantha work and chikan work from Gujarat, flamboyant bags with banjara mirror work from Andhra Pradesh, wooden toys from Karnataka, kalchatti utensils from Namakkal, gorgeous Benaras silk saris and Jaipur khadi cotton shirts for men.
Notable among the wares from across India are the artistic paper lamp shades embossed with dried flowers, arresting pink Austrian crystal chains, Bandhani saris and chudidhar materials priced from Rs. 650, oxidised silver jewellery and semi-precious stones from Jaipur and striking powdered sea-shell paintings on palm –leaf from Orissa.
An exclusive section houses fine, snug carpets from Uttar Pradesh with Persian and Moghul designs, priced between Rs.2,800 to 18,000. Jewellery divested with a quirk comes in the form of buffalo horn and camel bone jewellery starting at Rs.50.
A discount of 10 per cent on handicrafts and 20 per cent on handlooms is offered. The North East Crafts Fair is at Makkal Mandram till August 22 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shillong jottings: Listening to Jim Reeves in a cab

2010-08-06T04:28:00.001-07:00

By Ananya.s.guha

The article attempts to capture moments from this beautiful hill station, now in the throes of becoming a 'city'.

GETTING A taxi to the locality in Shillong where my office is situated is a trying job. For some reason cab drivers do not want to go there, “It is difficult getting passengers back” they explain. Some don’t even give such theories they move on with a brusque “No”. No amount of cajoling, coaxing and pleading can persuade them. I get impatient, “This drives drive me mad” I say.

I tried my luck waving my hands frantically at an onrushing cab one day. Wonder of wonders, the taxi driver agreed much to my surprise.

I jumped into the cab like a predator unwilling to leave my prey. Once safely ensconced in the seat, I relaxed, looked at my watch with composure. What a fetish for being on time I thought. If I tell this to my friends, they say I boast.

The taxi driver seemed to be in a jovial mood. He switched on his music player and a Jim Reeves number came out sonorously: “Put your sweet lips…”

Memories flooded my mind, I thought of my college days when I hummed this tune enveloping my thoughts into a make belief romance. This time I couldn’t help it, I started once again actually singing, the taxi driver not to be outdone joined me. “I have got a whole collection of these old hits,” he explained, “From where?” I enquired, “Do you market them?” “Yes”, he replied, “Where can I buy them?” I asked excitedly.

I suddenly rued the fact that once upon a time, I also had a range of collection but lending them out I never saw them again! “Well, I market them in Chennai”, “Here in Meghalaya?” I asked impatiently. “In Nongstoin” he said. I sighed. “In Shillong?” I persisted. “No not in Shillong” was the reply. Jim Reeves ended his soliloquy and the next song was “Tell Laura I love her.” I remembered the Lauras of old times.

By the time the song ended, we had reached our destination. I hastily got out. The songs echoed in my mind. Life is a never-ending song I thought…

People from NE attacked in Haryana

2010-07-30T03:40:00.001-07:00

Dimapur, Jul 30 : A woman and her baby from Manipur were verbally abused and attacked in Sikanderpur,Haryana,on Jul 27 by two unidentified men and their neighbors.

According to the Morungexpress reports, the victim Mercy (name changed) 28-year-old is the wife of an Indian army personnel who is posted in Lucknow. The incident took place when she was nursing her two year old baby and three boys from her native came to visit her at around 9 pm.

After the boys left her house an unidentified man aged around 30 years, from the same locality came and started assaulting with vulgar remarks in Hindi (“gandagi aurat” and “bazaar aurat” etc).

By the time neighbors came but to strange astonishment they too join in attacking Mercy and slapped her. Mercy and the other north east boys and girls who were living in the same building were threatened and warned not to report to police.

After the freak incident Mercy reported to North East Support Centre & Helpline: “the whole night I was so afraid with my little baby locked up the house and stayed inside till I could get friends from Manipur to come and help. I informed to my house owner and he did not come to help me also.”

North East Support Centre & Helpline have reported the matter to Anil Dawal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch). He has “assured” to take up the matter.

People from North East continue to suffer severe racial attacks and discrimination in Delhi in the hands of Indians and without any measures taken by the government or police forces.

The North East Support Centre & Helpline informed to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Haryana and Director General Police to take preventive measures to stop the racial attacks and discrimination to the people of North East.

Naga fashion designer Rosou standing tall

2010-07-27T22:32:00.001-07:00

Adding a great deal of contribution to the fashion industry of mainstream Indian continent, Nagaland has joined hands with its seven sisters’ states.
It is quite a boost to the fashion industry in the north-east region that the “Fashion Society of Shillong” collaborating with Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has created this platform to showcase ethnic designs of north-east India to the whole nation.

The ethnic show starts at Shillong for three days beginning July 28. From Shillong, the next show would take place in Kolkata from August 3 to 5 and the subsequent final show in Mumbai.

Designer Rosou Rhi is currently representing Nagaland to showcase his two collections comprising of Naga Ethnic design and Naga traditional attires various tribes of Nagaland under the theme “Super Ethos” to Mumbai.

Rosou Rhi hails from Zhavame village, belongs to the Chakhesang Naga community. He completed his Advanced Diploma in Fashion Designing and Apparel Production from Government Polytechnic, Kohima.

Rosou has a distinction of receiving awards for best designer and best creativity in the first graduation show of G.P.K.

He was also awarded the best designer “Get Gorgeous” Nagaland 2009. Without doubt, the young man is among today’s upcoming top Naga fashion designers.
Rosou has appreciated the organizing committee as well as the BASN for encouraging him to explore fashion outside Nagaland state. With gratitude, he gives appreciation to Deo Nukhu, advisor art and culture, new and renewable energy, science & technology, Nagaland, for personally sponsoring him to travel to various places in the country for showcase his designs.

Dilemma on Axomiya

2010-07-26T01:29:00.000-07:00

PATRICIA MUKHIM

'It cannot be denied that this (the Assam Accord) was the watershed that created a major disconnect between the indigenous people and the Axomiyas’

It is amazing how bloodshed is written into the DNA of Assam. And this happens with regular frequency for a number of reasons. The latest turmoil besetting Assam relates to the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a process which has been pending since 1951. Some call the NRC part fact and part fiction because it does not provide a solid base for determining the citizenship status of the Axomiya. The NRC has excluded certain districts which together constitute more than half of the present state of Assam. It is therefore a Catch 22 situation for any government to come up with a definition of who is an indigenous inhabitant of a piece of geographical space more so when 32 per cent of the population of Assam today constitutes Muslims who seem to create xenophobic nightmares for the average Axomiya who lives in a very exclusive domain and is already a minority in his state if you leave out the tribes and the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley.

Disconnect

It is interesting that the debate on defining who is an Assamese has spilled over into neighbouring Meghalaya with many leading intellectuals and politicians pitching in their views. Perhaps the best and most inclusive definition attempted was by Glenn Kharkongor, vice-chancellor of the Martin Luther Christian University, who said the Bodos, Karbis, Misings, and the non-indigenous Ahoms and others who came in from other parts of India, including erstwhile East Bengal, should be termed “Assamese”. But considering that the tribes have a rich culture, language and script of their own would they agree to be termed Assamese, a derivative that emerges out of a language spoken by a particular group of people? Suppose Meghalaya was still a part of Assam, would the Khasis and the Jaintias want to be called Assamese? Therein lies the crux of the problem. The word Assamese is too exclusive to bring everyone under its umbrella.

It was the lack of foresight, and should one call it a cultural chauvinism, of Assamese rulers who sought to impose a language on the many tribes living within their jurisdiction which led to the vivisection of Assam. Sadly the Assamese, and by this I mean those whose first language is Assamese and whose culture and cultural symbols are also Assamese, (not those who speak it as a second language and who have their own cultural moorings) have not learnt any lessons from history. When the Assam Accord was signed in 1985 after a protracted struggle, those at the vanguard of the Assam Movement repeated the blunders of their predecessors. The three signatories, Biraj Kumar Sarma, Bhrigu Kumar Phukan and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, were all caste Assamese. They did not even make any pretence of inclusiveness. It cannot be denied that this was the watershed that created a major disconnect between the indigenous people and the Axomiyas. The Bodos who lent their wholehearted support to the movement felt sidelined and that is what led to Bodo insurgency and the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council and a belligerent and hardened identity politics.

Impractical

To try and define who is an Assamese at this juncture when the caste Axomiya and the Ahoms together constitute only about 10 per cent of the total population of Assam seems like a futile exercise if not impractical. Of the several constitutional, legislative and administrative measures suggested in the Assam Accord, perhaps the one pertaining to the identification of a genuine “Assamese” citizen and therefore the counter identification of non-Assamese, or in other words the ubiquitous illegal immigrant/migrant or the Bangladeshi, is definitely the most problematic.

A group of ministers (GOM) have been appointed to resolve this conundrum but the task appears insurmountable. Let us remember that if the Nellie massacre which was meant to be a wake-up call to so-called illegal immigrants could not achieve what it set out to do, why do we assume that something can happen now? At the time the Muslim immigrant was perhaps a hapless defenceless victim. Today the position is drastically reversed. Politically and demographically the Muslims are the most powerful group in Assam and they are fully conscious of their political clout. We only have to revisit past incidents to know that the Muslims have taken on very belligerent stances on certain issues where their control is challenged. Look at what happens in Goalpara each time the Rabhas raise the demand for the Sixth Schedule. It is inevitably followed by protests from the Muslim community there followed by violence. This happened in 2008 and 2009. The Muslims assert that the Rabhas can only have a council wherever they constitute more than 50 per cent of the population, knowing fully well that is not the demographic reality in Goalpara or Kamrup.

Populism

It is easy to sound populist slogans especially on the eve of the Assembly elections but for AASU and others to be speaking of 1951 as the cut-off year as this point is sheer rhetoric because they had already signed and sealed to making March 1971 as the cut-off year for the identification of non-citizens. Unfortunately, election eves are also a propitious occasion for certain political parties to whip up xenophobia.

Identity politics in Assam has taken firm roots. The Bodos would never want to call themselves Axomiyas in the sense that those who speak the Axomiya language do? Neither would the Misings, the Karbis or Dimasas. Each group has shown what it can do if pushed to the limits.

It is interesting to note that when the indigenous people had not reached a stage of political savvy the Axomiyas never bothered to make them feel part of themselves. Today when the indigenous people have begun to resent the exclusive nature of the Axomiya ruling elite, there is an attempt to make them feel they are as Axomiya as any other indigenous settler of Assam. Today the inclusion project is sought to be waved about like a flag but the damage is already done and the schisms already too entrenched to be reversed.

Fallacy

If only the Axomiyas had realised that theirs is a heterogeneous society and if they had respected that heterogeneity, the fight against illegal migrants would have been a united fight. Alas! That opportunity is lost forever. Defining a person on the basis of a language he speaks is practical only in a mono-lingual, mono-cultural society. How anyone can even presume to define an “Assamese” in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious society that inhabits Assam today is quite a feat. The creation of Assam on linguistic grounds it in itself a fallacy.

The Union home ministry is playing some more mind games here. Is the ministry not aware that identifying an Assamese is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack? Who will decide who has come after 1971, particularly when by now every illegal immigrant has a paper to vouch for his citizenship and lakhs of such immigrants are already enrolled in the voter list? I doubt that we have a mechanism anywhere in the world for identifying human beings on the basis of their looks, their language and their religion. So for now the identification project looks like a wild goose chase. The “Assamese” will remain an amorphous entity.

(The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com

North East crafts fair opens in Mangalore

2010-07-26T00:55:00.001-07:00

Mangalore, July 25, DHNS: North East Crafts Fair, an exhibition of traditional crafts of common people of the North-Eastern region of India, was inaugurated by Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel at Hotel Woodlands.
The exhibition is being organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited with the sponsorship of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) of the Ministry of Textiles of the Government of India.
Addressing reporters, Handicrafts Marketing and Service Extension Centre Assistant Director Shashidhar said that the exhibition will present an array of crafts and creations of artisans from North-Eastern states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
Cane crafts, bamboo crafts, handloom weaving, artistic textile weaving, wood carving, embroidery, jewellery, brass items, basketry, hand woven fabrics, symbolic ornamentation of Assam, tribal ornaments made of cane and bamboo, glass beads, carpets, toys, Kauna grass cusions of Manipur, Endi silk weaving and pine apple fiber articles of Meghalaya, bamboo cap of Mizoram and several other handicrafts will be on display, he said.
The fair will be opened for public between 10 am and 9 pm till August 8, 2010. In addition to display and sale, there will be demonstration of skill and craftmanship by selected crafts-persons at the exhibition premises, he added.

Horn of plenty

2010-07-23T23:30:00.001-07:00

Patrick Horton

A tourist spots a rhino from the back of an elephant in Kaziranga. Picture: Patrick Horton

BED tea is a wonderful Indian institution and a most effective alarm clock. My door is knocked, quietly at first, but then rising in persistence and volume. Still numbed by sleep, I scramble for the light switch, hurriedly add clothes for respectability and open the door.

Mumbling a good morning, I take charge of a tray containing teapot, milk and sugar, and close the door. Thoughts of returning to sleep come to mind but then, more sharply, does the reason for being woken at 4.30am. I pour my tea, quickly shower, dress and assemble cameras, and rush out of the door. I'm off to visit rhinos.
Outside a jeep purrs quietly. I hop in and the driver speeds us down empty narrow lanes between tea plantations. I'm in Kaziranga in Assam, one of those mysterious states in the country's far northeast that dangle, geographically, off the main body of India.
It's a short journey to the edge of Kaziranga National Park. A noticeboard by the entrance tells visitors what they may see: about 1855 rhinos, 1293 wild elephants and multitudes of deer and wild boar. There are also 86 tigers in residence, but I have little hope of spotting one of these shy creatures. I leave my jeep, pay the entrance fee and walk a short distance to where my next transport is waiting . . . an elephant.

Mounting an elephant is not an easy task. You have to trust that the beast won't move while you step off a high platform down on to its broad back and then lower yourself to sit astride. If you're lucky, your elephant will be fitted with running boards for your feet. If not they dangle, useless and heavy, threatening to dislocate your hips with every lurch. Fortunately my elephant does have running boards plus a hold-on rope that's really there to secure the huge mattress on which three of us are sitting.
It's a quick matter of getting anchored and comfortable before our convoy of elephants lumbers off into the grasslands.
It is still early; the sun isn't up and neither are the rhinos. As we travel the gloom lifts and the first rays of the sun glisten the tops of the aptly named elephant grass. It is indeed as tall as a jumbo; our convoy appears to be floating on a sea of green with just the heads of the elephants and their passengers visible.
Only when we clear this patch of tall grass do I notice the baby elephants trailing their mothers and getting used to the idea of their future employment.
Suddenly, the lead elephant trumpets and a rudely awoken rhino pokes up its head, looks around and then all but ignores us. It's seen it all before.
In the excitement the passenger in front of me drops her handbag into the grass. With grunted commands from the mahout, the elephant carefully picks it up by the strap with its trunk. Such
a surreal image creates much amusement among our party.
Soon plenty of rhinos appear. They're not at all fazed by the intruding elephants but carry on munching. Close up they deserve every tank-like simile, with armour-plated skin hanging in thick folds as though sheets of it have been welded on. And they are ugly. No one, except maybe their mothers, would think these animals attractive.
As we approach, the elephants fan out and stop, giving us time to steady ourselves before lifting a camera. Fortunately, rhinos are not skittish creatures but stare back at us.
They also don't mind the company of other wildlife and share the grasslands with herds of buffalo, deer and wild pigs. The rhinos are easy to spot in the distance from the blobs of white on their backs, which close-up reveal themselves as egrets feeding off the insects that the animals attract or disturb in their grazing. The single-horned Indian rhinoceros once roamed much of eastern India plus the lowlands of Nepal and Bhutan, but hunting and the encroachment of man has depleted their numbers severely. In the early 1900s, before hunting was banned, it was estimated that just 100 were left. Now there are between 2500 and 3000 in Assam, neighbouring West Bengal and Chitwan National Park in Nepal. Such has been the conservation success that rhinos have been exported to repopulate other parks.
As elephants are not speedy transport, we don't get far into the reserve, so the rest is covered by jeep.
By now the early December morning has turned pleasantly warm, nudging 22C; three months from now that temperature doubles and scorches the grass to a stubble. Then the animals are easier to see and there's a better chance of spotting tigers.
Today we spy several wild elephants, backsides only, and a line of sun-baking turtles arranged in parade-ground order on a branch sticking out of a river. As we watch, an otter slips into the water, creates a v-wake across the mirrored surface and scurries on some errand into the bush on the opposite bank. Late afternoon and I'm in another national park, Pobitora, which is smaller and with a much greater concentration of animals. Its 18sq km is home to about 80 rhinos.
Another advantage is that it's less up-country and only 40km from the state capital of Assam, Guwahati, so can be visited as a day trip. The elephant rides are also longer at two hours, but this time there are no running boards on my jumbo.
Our line of five elephants pads slowly through forest before emerging into grassland. Here the grass is only (human) knee height and we soon rouse a mother rhino and her baby. Maybe it's the father nearby who takes more than a glancing interest in us. In fact he looks distinctly unfriendly and advances aggressively. I do have a man with a gun behind me on my elephant, but his weapon seems a pea-shooter.
Firing at this four-legged tank would be like flicking cherry stones at it, but I needn't worry as my elephant has matters in hand. With a big shake of its head and a loud trumpet, it scares off the rhino.
There does seem to be a bit of excitement in the air, and a challenge, as we soon come across a private argument between two males over a female. We vicariously gawk from the safety of our elephants as the two face off.
I expect a battle of the horns but discover that rhinos can make quite a wimpish squealing noise. It rather destroys the image of fighting juggernauts, but squealing is all we get. We also make our retreat as our time is up, but on the way back we have another surprise. As we approach a mud hole, the placid surface quivers and then erupts into the muddy forms of buffaloes.
We return to unload and I am glad to put my legs back together again even if I do walk like a bandy-legged cowboy.
Checklist
Guwahati, capital of Assam, has a regional airport with connections from all main Indian cities and is well connected by rail. Kaziranga National Park is six hours by road from Guwahati; Pobitora National Park is two hours. There is a good range of accommodation in Kaziranga. More: networktravelsindia.net (for Kaziranga and Pobitora tours) or jungletravelsindia.com (for Kaziranga).

Models From Northeast India

2010-07-23T21:15:00.001-07:00

Guwahati girls Preety Kongana and Rajkanya Baruah pose after making it to the list of top 10 finalists of Dabur Gulabari Sananda Tilottama 2010 in Calcutta on Thursday. A rigorous grooming under ramp pro Noyonika Chatterjee awaits them before the August 22 grand finale. Picture by Pabitra Das

Bangladesh urged to invest in North-East India

2010-07-11T05:54:00.002-07:00

Opportunity is knocking at the door of Bangladesh to expand its business footprint in the North-East and Eastern India as the region welcomes external as well as internal investment, a former Indian minister said Saturday.

"Improvement in trade relations with the North-East India could even take Bangladesh up to China," said Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Indian minister for development of the North-East Region, while speaking at a meeting in the city.

He made the comments at a meeting between visiting Indian business delegation and India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) at a city hotel.

IBCCI Chairman Abul Matlub Ahmad presided over the meeting while Rajeet Mitter, Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, Kiren Rijiju, principal secretary to the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dr K C Nihoshe, parliamentary secretary of Nagaland, spoke on the occasion.

The 38-member business team led by Mr Aiyar is now in Bangladesh on a five-day tour, which will also take them to port city Chittagong.

During the trip, the delegation will hold talks with Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Board of Investment and Ministry of Commerce.

Top businessmen from the sectors of information technology, shipbuilding, construction materials, apparels, power, pulp, tourism, airlines, telecoms, fast-moving consumer goods, agricultural products and health care consist of the delegation.

Aiyar said Bangladesh prime minister's successful visit to India in January this year opened up unprecedented opportunities for intensified cooperation and economic integration between Bangladesh and the North-East and Eastern India.

He said until the partition of 1947 the North-East regions were prosperous, but now the region progresses at half the pace of the rest of India.

Aiyar, also a former petroleum minister, said the Indian government has earmarked 10 per cent of the national development budget for the underdeveloped region. "We have already spent 2.0 trillion Indian rupees out of 14 trillion rupees planned for infrastructure development in the region."

"This however has opened up new opportunity for investment for Bangladesh in the region. The North-East India offers Dhaka an important opportunity for expanding market and investment," he said admitting that balance of trade between the two countries is grievously out of equilibrium from the Bangladesh's point of view.

He said during the 1965 India-Pakistan War trade between the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and India was undisrupted. "Now there is an ebb. The historical economic relations can be restored if Bangladesh can exploit market in North-East India."

"Opportunity is now knocking at the door and Bangladesh has to grab it," Aiyar said.

K C Nihoshe said although small-scale insurgency exists in Nagaland, the separatists' activities are limited to rural areas. "There is nothing to fear. Bangladeshi industrialists and businessmen can come up and invest in the province as we welcome both internal and external investments."

Kiren Rijiju said without Bangladesh the North-East India is cut off from the rest of the world.

He said the central Indian government should integrate Bangladesh into their thoughts when they think about development of the North-East India. "This will help the region prosper. Bangladesh needs India and vice versa to achieve sustainable economic growth."

Abul Matlub Ahmad said Bangladeshi industrialists are now mature to invest in large economies such as India and Turkey in the world. "Time has come for us to invest outside the country and bring back billions of dollars in profit remittance. We would like to request the government to allow us to invest overseas."

He said the five-day tour of the Indian delegation will provide a unique opportunity to build and foster better economic ties between the two countries.

During the trip, at least eight joint ventures will be signed, the IBCCI chief said.

Rajeet Mitter said this tour would open up a window of cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. "Since the summit between the two leaders various steps have been taken to take the initiative forward."

Former ambassador Farooq Sobhan, IBCCI vice-president Dewan Sultan Ahmed and directors of IBCCI were present during the meeting.

Cuisines of North East India

2010-07-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

Gather information about the cuisines and special delicacies of North East India, Assamese cuisines, Arunachali cuisines, Meghalayan cuisines, Mizoram cuisines and Sikkimese cuisines.

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The North East India consists of seven states and also called as "Seven Sisters of India". The states that are popularly counted among the "Seven Sisters of India" are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. The most attractive factor of this part of India is the natural beauty which is relatively the more simple way of life. The food culture of North Eastern part of India. The inhabitants of North East India are basically non-vegetarian. The people of Nagaland eat every part of animal, they never waste any part of it.

Assamese Cuisine:
The Assamese food is basically rice and fish and for dessert the people prefers "pithas" which are actually a type of cake. Rice is the staple food of the state which is taken throughout the day. The Assamese people eat huge variety of breakfast cereals with milk, yoghurt or thick creamakhoi (puffed rice), chura, muri, komal chaul (is the special variety of rice that requires cooking but just an hour's soak in cold water) and hurum. In the dishes the jaggery or sugar can also be added if the person prefers savoury items. There are also different types of pithas that are prepared from rice powder.

Arunachali Cuisine:
The traditional North East Indian cuisine, Chinese food and local food are available here. People take mostly the non- vegetarian diets. There are most of the cuisines that includes the non-vegetarian meals. Apong is the local drink that is made from rice or millets are very popular here.

Manipuri Cuisine:
The dining style of Manipur is literally traditional like sitting down with the banana- leaf plates. The people love to have rice which is seen in every house. Some people prefers meat with rice and other prefers the fish with rice that is counted as the main delicacy of north east India. Kabok is also the dish in Manipur that is popular in North East India which is prepared with the lots of vegetables mixed in it. The Iromba is the dish that is prepared with fish, vegetables and bamboo shoots ans is served fermented.

Meghalayan Cuisine:
The Meghalayan cuisines is having the heavy flavor of meat which is particularly pork. Jadoh is the spicy dish that is prepared from rice and pork and can be eaten any time. The local pork delicacies are prepared in Khasi style. Kyat is also the local brew which is made from rice and it also adds spice to the local celebrations. One can even taste it at any bars which is spread all over the Shillong, Meghalaya.

Mizoram Cuisine:
The Mizoram people are basically non-vegetarian and loves to have meat. The food is not so spicy and is cooked in the as it retains the nutritive value. The locally made wine "Zu" (tea) is the most popular drink which is taken by many of the people and both men and women are fond of smoking.

Sikkimese Cuisine:
Sikkim is the state in the north eastern part of India that is having the unique cuisine and recipies. There are variety of food that one can get but the special features of Tibetan Thupka and Momos which are very popular in the state. The local drink 'Tchang' is the beer prepared with the millet and is served in the bamboo mug. The people of Sikkim are basically the rice eaters. The basic traditional cuisines from the are- Momos, Gya Thuk or Thupka, Ningro with Churpi, Gundruk, Phagsgapa, Seal Roti.

Tripuri Cuisine:
The Bengali community of Tripura prefers to have the non-vegetarian flavored cuisines. Most of the people also serves the special Bengali delicacies.

Fuel crisis hits Tripura

2010-07-09T01:02:00.003-07:00

A fuel crisis has hit Tripura as fuel that comes to the state from Assam has been disrupt due rail connectivity cutoff for over five days.

"Due to landslide the rail connectivity with Lumding has been disrupted and so wagons (those transports oil) are unable to come to this side and thus there is a crisis of fuel", said Subrata Achariya, a manager of petrol filling station.

Hundreds of vehicles were seen in queue in front of petrol filling station while many centers had hanged the board of no-petrol. LPG outlets also had a similar scene with hundreds of empty gas cylinders lying outside the outlets.

"I have come here for petrol but they are only giving two liters per auto-rickshaw. How can we do with so little petrol? Outside in the black-market petrol is available at Rs.100 to 150 per liter but that is also adulterated with kerosene. Most of the filling stations have put the board of no petrol but actually there is oil. We are compelled to buy petrol from the black-market at Rs.100 to 150 per liter", said Ajoy Das, an auto-rickshaw driver.ripura has been facing an unprecedented crisis of petroleum products.

As almost all the petrol pumps in the town area have run dry due to suspension of fuel supply from July 1 the government has rationed fuel in the state. wo wheelers were given one liter, three wheelers two liters, while commercial and private vehicles five liters a day.

Besides, petrol and diesel, supply of LPG cylinders are also in shortage. Most of the outlets were closed and cylinders were being sold at Rs 700-1000 in open the market.

Country's second rubber park to be set up in Tripura soon

2010-07-08T23:25:00.001-07:00

Agartala, Jul 9 : India's second rubber-based industrial park is all set to start operating in Tripura soon, state Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury today said.

He said Tripura produces 26,000 tonnes of rubber every year out of which nearly 90 per cent is exported because of inadequate processing infrastructure in the state.

Considering huge potential and production possibilities the state has initiated the project for providing the prospective investors with necessary infrastructure for development of various rubber based industries, which would bring about a natural revolution in the elastic polymer industry, Mr Choudhury said. The rubber park, a joint venture of the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) and the Rubber Board, was the second of its kind in the country after the rubber park in Kerala's Irapuram, he added.

The Tripura government had set up a 'Rubber Mission' with the objective of systematically bringing 85,074 hectares more under rubber cultivation for ensuring socio-economic and industrial growth, Mr Choudhury stated.

Monsoon revival hope gaining ground

2010-07-04T23:17:00.001-07:00

PATNA: The South-West Monsoon has further advanced and is now meandering near eastern UP and it may cover the rest of Bihar within the next 72 hours.

However, there is little possibility of the monsoon becoming active or vigorous in Bihar, Jharkhand and UP at least this week till a low pressure area or an upper air cyclonic circulation is formed in the Bay of Bengal.

Though it is now over a fortnight that the onset of monsoon in both Bihar and Jharkhand had been officially announced, both the states till date have received deficient rainfall. “With no system in the Bay, there is no chance of getting any good amount of rainfall in the next 48 hours,” said Patna Met office sources.

“While Bihar has a deficient rainfall of 30%, Jharkhand has 38%. But compared to 2009, the situation is definitely better as in June last year, both the states almost recorded a deficit of over 55%. UP has a deficient rainfall of 82%,” added Met office sources.

Now advancing and meandering around eastern UP, the northern limit of the monsoon is crossing through Gaya and Raxual. The short and scattered rainfall at some intervals is all the met can predict. Humidity futher plays spoilsport. Met department officials, however, predicted some thundershowers in some districts of both Bihar and Jharkhand.

Additional director general (weather forecasting) of IMD, Pune, A B Mazumdar said, “Till now, Met scientists were expecting the low pressure area, which developed over the Bay of Bengal, to approach further and make way for monsoon in other states and become active in Bihar also. But local phenomenon changed the course of events by weakening the strength of the low pressure area. However, we are still hopeful that in July and August both northwest and northeast India will get sufficient rainfall.”

“We are also pinning our hopes on revival of this low pressure area with the help of local climatic developments in Bihar,” said weather officials, who added that delay in monsoon is less likely to affect rain expected in the following months.

In fact, weather scientists are analysing weather data gathered over 60 years to get a clearer picture of the Indian monsoon, and revise the dates given for the annual rainy season across the country.

“The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is contemplating to revise the normal onset dates for the monsoon across the country. The change in dates will happen in the near future. A committee comprising over 40 scientists has analysed the data and the dates will come into effect from next season,” added Mazumdar.

No newspapers in Manipur after militants’ threat

2010-06-28T03:01:00.001-07:00

Imphal, June 28 – Local newspapers in insurgency-ravaged Manipur failed to appear Sunday as the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) has decided not to publish newspapers to protest the diktats of separatist outfits.

‘Kangleipak Communist Party – Military Council (KCP-MC), a militant outfit which was split into two factions two months back, had threatened the editors and journalists earlier this week with dire consequences if their diktats were not followed regarding publication of news about their faction,’ a spokesman of the AMWJU told reporters Sunday.

‘In view of the militants’ threat, editors, publishers and journalists have jointly decided not to publish any newspaper Sunday,’ he said.

The editors and journalists, who appealed to the extremists outfits not to put pressure on media organisations regarding the publication of news and leave the decision on editors, also staged a protest rally in the Manipur capital Imphal Sunday.

The AMWJU also threatened to launch a bigger movement if the separatist outfits continue to threaten media houses and their members.

Interview with a conservation giant from India

2010-06-28T02:59:00.001-07:00

By Shubhobroto Ghosh, special to mongabay.com
June 27, 2010

An interview with Dr M K Ranjitsinh, Chairman of the Wildlife Trust of India

It is perhaps sacrilegious to squeeze all the achievements of the Wildlife Trust of India Chairman, Dr M K Ranjitsinh in one short profile note. A scion of the former royal family of Wankaner in Saurashtra, Gujarat, he is one of the most distinguished and accomplished wildlifers in India and indeed the world. Named after the famous cricketer, Dr Ranjitsinh has led a peripatetic and multifarious life that has seen him make full use of his multi talented personality.

As Collector of Dhar and Mandhla districts from 1965 to 1970 he handled one of the severest famines in recent times, with almost one and a half lakh laborers working on the scarcity works and food-grain provision being a major task. He was Deputy Secretary and Director, Forests and Wildlife, in the Ministry of Agriculture and in this role took substantive roles in administrative aspects of wildlife conservation of the forests of Andaman and Nicobars, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. Dr Ranjitsinh has been instrumental in setting up one of the most remarkable zoological gardens in the country, Van Vihar in Bhopal, perhaps the only zoo in the world with an open air enclosure for leopards. As Commissioner of Bhopal from 1983 to 1985 he directed relief operations during the disastrous gas leak in December 1984. He has also served as Director General of the Council for the Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) and was involved in sanctioning of projects of prominent non governmental agencies. Dr Ranjitsinh drafted and piloted the Wildlife(Preservation) Act of 1972, the first comprehensive wildlife legislation applicable to the whole country. As the first Director of Wildlife Preservation of India under this Act from 1973 to 1975, he drafted the schemes for financial assistance to different Indian states for establishing national parks and sanctuaries. He has spearheaded the protection of the Central Indian race of the Barasingha, the Manipur Brow antlered Deer and the Nilgiri Tahr, amongst numerous other species. As the Member Secretary of the Task Force for formulating Project Tiger, he was instrumental in the identification of the first tiger reserves in India. Dr Ranjitsinh prefers to see animals in the wild, but he was responsible for the launching of the successful captive breeding and rehabilitation of three species of crocodilians in India.

Dr M K Ranjitsinh, who framed India's Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. Photo courtesy of Ranjitsinh and the Wildlife Trust of India

From 1975 to 1980, he worked as the Regional Adviser in Nature Conservation in the Bangkok regional Office of the United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP) and rendered technical advice in nature conservation, ecosystem management, legislation and international cooperation in this regard to Asian countries. Thailand's national conservation plan was prepared with his assistance. His exemplary efforts in nature conservation saw him as the only representative on the Expert Group that assisted the Government of Germany in preparation of the International Conservation of Migratory species of Wildlife. Dr Ranjitsinh played a leading role in the amendment of the Wildlife(Protection) Act of 1972 and banned the trade of endangered species all over the country. He loves tigers but he loves their elusive mountain dwelling brethren, the Snow Leopard too and initiated a project for the conservation of this species. India's premier wildlife research institute, the Wildlife Institute of India was started with his support and he acted as Chairman of its Research Advisory Committee. He has been the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) and has led the Indian delegation to the World National Parks Congress in the United States. Travel is an obsession with Dr Ranjitsinh and he has visited more than 90 countries till date. He has been a pioneer in establishing a compensation scheme of cattle killed by tigers and leopards and diverted the tribals of Orissa from their hunting practices. His academic credentials are impeccable and he holds a PhD in Wildlife Ecology from Saurashtra University. He has published more than 50 papers on wildlife and nature related issues and has written two books on wildlife, including 'Beyond the Tiger: Portraits of Asian Wildlife'.

Dr Ranjitsinh espouses the non lethal usage of wild animals and thinks that India's unique religious traditions do not permit the wanton destruction of wildlife. An avid reader and collector of books, he loves Hindustani Classical music and collects coins, stamps and art related to wildlife. His stalwart efforts have been recognized by the award of the Order of the Golden Ark of Netherlands in 1979 and by election to the Global 500 Roll of Honor of the United Nations Environment Program(UNEP)in 1991.

INTERVIEW WITH DR M K RANJITSINH

Shubhobroto Ghosh: To begin with, thank you for your time and patience in granting this interview. To start off with, where are you from?

M K RANJITSINH : I am from Wankaner in Saurashtra in Gujarat.

Wildlife Trust of India

Shubhobroto Ghosh: I understand you belong to a royal family. Are you related to the cricketer Ranjitsinhji?

M K Ranjitsinh: Erstwhile royal family(smiles). I am not related to Ranjitsinhji the cricketer, but I was named after him. He was known to my family as a friend.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What is your educational qualification?

M K Ranjitsinh: I have an MA in History (Honors) from St Stephen's College in New Delhi. And I hold a PhD in Ecology from Saurashtra University of Rajkot that was awarded to me in 1983.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: If you do not mind me asking you this, Royal families have traditionally been accused of exploiting humans and they have also been accused of exploiting animals. How do you defend your royal connections especially when you relate it to your work for social causes and particularly wildlife conservation?

M K Ranjitsinh: This is a very interesting question, I must say it is a very provocative question and sometime ago a journalist asked my father a similar question. But I am not provoked at all. I'll take your question.

First, exploitation of humans. You tell me, if royal families were all exploitative and abusive, why are members of ex Royal families still getting elected in India? The electorate of India does not consist of fools and certainly the people of Gujarat are no fools. See, you have to understand that there were good rulers and there were bad rulers. If the will of the people is manifested in elections and people weigh their choices rationally, isn't there something to be said for ex members of Royal families still getting elected in a democracy like India today?

My father once mentioned, "In a monarchy, one family exploits the people(If that is how you want to put it.) In a democracy, a thousand families exploit the people." Now to come to your more germane question regarding exploitation of animals, I have to admit that some princes of royal families were inveterate hunters and slaughtered animals indiscriminately and such wanton killing was and remains indefensible. But at the same time there were hunters like Dharmakumarsinhji who were keen observers of fauna and he was an ardent ornithologist. I also have to say that there was more wildlife in states of yore where princes were interested in hunting. When I started as the Director of Wildlife, about 80% of the then existing wildlife reserves were former hunting reserves of the British and of the princes. If one family hunted many animals, in Northern Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh there were still more tigers in this country then than now after the Project Tiger initiatives. Hunting was not a free for all during the colonial rule.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What about sport hunting? The morality of taking a life for pleasure?

M K R: I would not advocate sport hunting now. It will militate against the current ethos of animal protection in India. But again I emphasise that 50 years ago, there was more wildlife in India than now. The Maharaja of Dholpur in Rajasthan was a former hunter and would call individual Sambar by name. Regarding the moral issue, there is no more or and no less morality in taking a life by hunting than eating a chicken. What I do mean to say is that there is no morality in taking a life per se. But there are different kinds of hunting. One is hunting for possession, a selfish affair. And there is hunting for eating. And many hunters turned into conservationists, for example, Jim Corbett and Billy Arjan Singh. So you have to take into account different perspectives on this issue. For example, does it help the cause of the tiger by saving maneaters? I don't think so. I would rather have a maneater shot than captured since an animal in captivity is as good as dead as far as conservation goes.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on keeping wild animals in zoos ?

M K Ranjitsinh: I am not in favor of keeping animals in captivity per se but support ex situ conservation as a last resort for saving animals. But certainly I am opposed to keeping animals in captivity for the enjoyment of people. I well and truly believe that the best way to appreciate the beauty of an animal is by viewing it in the wild. In India, people ogle at animals in zoos and National Parks. It is our own fault. The whole conservation effort is too tiger centric. People do not appreciate other forms of wildlife. I was in Corbett recently when I spotted a leopard in a tree. Some tourists were causing a ruckus so I asked them to stop making noise. "This is just a leopard, not a tiger," I told them sarcastically. And believe it or not some of them left the spot immediately murmuring, "Only a leopard, not a tiger, not a tiger." This mindset has to change.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on the reintroduction of animals ?

M K Ranjitsinh: Reintroduction of animals should be done the right way. It could bring focus on the area which is very important. Take for example, the Rhinos of Dudhwa that were brought there in 1979 from Assam. They are still in an enclosure and in my opinion, they should have been released.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: How do you view domestic animal welfare in the light of wild animal welfare?

M K Ranjitsinh: I am not against domestic animal welfare but there is a conflict between wild animal welfare and domestic animal welfare because they compete for the same resources in areas of wild habitat.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: How do you justify spending money and resources on animals when there are people dying out of hunger and starvation and poverty in India ?

M K Ranjitsinh: If you are a welfare state, you have to give attention to poverty alleviation. Is the solution to this the destruction of forests? Saving animals means saving forests and ecosystems, the natural heritage of the country. Land diverted for demographic use cannot be brought back for any other use. How many people will you help by destroying forests? Saving habitat of animals is the primary issue here, the animals come second. And to what extent is the reclaimed land cultivable? Marginal land should be forested. In Western Satpura in Southern Aravallis in Bhil tribal areas in Madhya Pradesh there is an ecological holocaust. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have lost 32,000 square kilometers of forest areas in the last sixty years. If everything in a democracy should be put to vote, then why not put the future of the entire country to vote on every issue including the fate of our religious shrines? Is that acceptable in a democracy? Is that how a democracy should function? And does a democracy necessarily mean a free for all?

In this country, there is a religious sentiment to save forests and wildlife. There is also a fear of retribution, a hangover from the colonial past. In some places, people do not encroach on forests because they fear dacoits. Wildlife also survives in demilitarized war zones. There is no single overriding common denominator regarding protection of animals and wildlife in India. Some communities are more conducive to conservation principles than others. And the survival of forests in India is inextricably linked to the survival of animals. If the tigers are not there in Sariska, how will the forest survive? You have to have certain choices. If we are prepared to protect our religious sites considering them to be sacred, why are we not prepared to save our forests that are also part and parcel of God's land?

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What is your stance on the burning debate on 'Tigers versus Tribals'?

M K Ranjitsinh: As I have mentioned, tigers cannot roam free as man eaters. But there IS a distinction between tigers as a threat to human life and as a threat to human property. In a protected park, people should be moved out. In other areas, tigers would have to coexist with humans and they will not survive. We have to look into ways to resolve this man animal conflict. The aim should be to lessen damage to human property without destroying the animals.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: You have written several books on wildlife. Who are your favorite authors?

M K Ranjitsinh: (Laughs) Too many to mention. Dunbar Brander, George Schaller, Colonel C H Stockley, Dharmakumarsinhji, Salim Ali, Saroj Raj Chaudhury, Jim Corbett, F W Champion. I liked Burrard's books on mountain fauna. Also books written by Stebbing. Most of these people were pioneers in their respective fields.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: Which wildlifers do you most admire?

M K Ranjitsinh: I liked the conservation efforts made by the British and Indian princes. I appreciate the works of Sanjay Deb Roy, Kailash Sankhala, Billy Arjan Singh and Saroj Raj Chaudhury. Chaudhury was a remarkable man – he contributed a lot to forest management in India and was the first director of the nascent Wildlife Institute of India.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: How many countries have you visited ?

M K Ranjitsinh: (Laughs) Close to 90 I think. I love to travel and visit countries and sometimes it so happens that two countries join to become one and one country divides into two!

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on feral animals?

M K Ranjitsinh: (laughs) What kind of feral animals?

Shubhobroto Ghosh: Any kind of feral animals.

M K Ranjitsinh: They have to be considered on a case by case basis. In New Zealand, they shot 18,000 Himalayan Tahr in two years, that is probably greater than the number of Tahr that exist in India. There might be a case for controlling feral Cheetal Deer in the Andamans. I would say that the local fauna and flora would have to take precedence in conservation and if feral animals are imposing a threat to them, they should be controlled.

The phone rings. Dr Ranjitsinh picks it up. It is his wife asking him to come home early. "I think I will be late today," he replies. "I have a guy at the office here named Shubhobroto who is asking me all kinds of awkward questions." He puts down the phone and says, "Pray continue."

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on sustainable use of wildlife?

M K Ranjitsinh: I don't believe in sustainable use of wildlife and would be uncomfortable with the concept. Sustainable use is never the ONLY way to save animals. Killing wild animals would go against the grain of ethics in India. Ethically, it would be counterproductive. It would imply animals should have monetary value in order to be preserved. I know some countries accept sustainable use of animals but India is different in that we believe in sanctity of life. There should be no lethal usage of animals. But some sustainable use that does not harm the animals like using shed peacock feathers is OK. We have to be careful though that this allowance is not misused.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: Are you a vegetarian?

M K R: I am turning into a vegetarian for ethical reasons. I have never been a great meat eater.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on euthanasia?

M K Ranjitsinh: I would agree to euthanasia if there is no hope of recovery for an animal.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your views on corporates funding wildlife protection causes?

M K Ranjitsinh: If there are no unwarranted strings attached, I don't have a problem with accepting money from them. It is a moral judgment one has to make. As long as it is not anti conservation, it is OK in my opinion to accept money from industrial groups.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: Do you believe in God?

M K Ranjitsinh: Yes, I do believe in God. Nature is God's creation. I have worshipped in every religious shrine I have come across in my travels.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: If Nature is God's creation, who created God?

M K Ranjitsinh: I have to be honest and say that I do not know the answer to this question.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: What are your hobbies and your pastimes?

M K Ranjitsinh: I love listening to Hindustani Classical Music. Also appreciate sport, specially cricket and tennis. I collect coins and stamps bearing animal pictures. Collect art related to wildlife. I love mountain walking and mountain mammals and am a great admirer of mountain scenery. I am also fond of books on animals and wildlife.

Shubhobroto Ghosh: Thank you very much for your time and trouble.

M K Ranjitsinh: My pleasure.

Small town talents make it big on reality shows

2010-06-28T02:57:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, June 28 – A platform to flaunt their talent in singing, dancing, acting, even cooking – reality shows are giving people in small towns across the country an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments, and if they make it to among the top few winners, a fairytale existence thereafter with fame and fortune beckoning.

Reality shows are a rage in small towns. Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Raju Shrivastava, Prashant Tamang and Sandeep Acharya are the few names that rose on the showbiz firmament after their stint in reality shows and their success has inspired many to follow suit.

The best example of reality show turning life into fantasy is of the Prince Dance Troupe from the back lanes of Berhampur, Orissa. Comprising an unlikely mix of dailywage earning labourers including two polio-stricken children – the troupe overcame grinding odds to win the ‘India’s Got Talent’ reality show last year on Colors channel.

After that there was no looking back for the group, which will now perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in October.

Explaining what makes reality shows such a success in small towns, Sanjay Gupta, chief operating officer of STAR India, told IANS: ‘These shows are opportunities to break free from where you are… And the desire to break free in small towns is higher because there you don’t get enough exposure. You know you can’t fulfil your ambitions by staying there and that is driving a lot of people to participate in talent shows.’

‘A large part of this country wants to grow, and people are looking for opportunities to get bigger platforms. When they get a platform – be it for singing, dancing or cooking – it is the opportunity to get a better life.’

The first few reality shows that provided big dreams for small town people were ‘Meri Awaz Suno’ on Doordarshan and Zee TV’s ‘Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma’ that respectively produced singers like Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghosal in 1996.

In recent times Sony’s ‘Indian Idol’ saw a virtually unknown Abhijeet Sawant becoming a celebrity after winning the crown. The second season winner Sandeep Acharya from Bikaner in Rajasthan too became well-known.

Debojit Saha, a struggling singer from Silchar, Assam, got a new lease of life after winning Zee’s ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’.

Prashant Tamang from Darjeeling, Amit Paul from Shillong, Emon Chatterjee from Kolkata and Antara Mitra from Maslandapur, a West Bengal town in North 24-Parganas, too realised their big dreams on different seasons of ‘Indian Idol’.

With time reality shows became bigger and better.

After musicals came talent hunt shows like ‘Fame Gurukul’, ‘India’s Best: Cinestars Ki Khoj’ and reality shows ‘Bigg Boss’, ‘Roadies’, ‘Chotey Ustad’ and ‘Laughter Challenge’.

Zee reportedly invested Rs.100 crore in ‘Cinestars Ki Khoj’. The catch was the winner will get to star in three films to be produced by Zee Telefilms for a combined budget of Rs.20 crore.

According to reports, in the capital alone, 21,000 people turned up for the auditions while Mumbai saw a crowd of 12,000. Other cities didn’t lag behind with 6,000 participants on an average including aspirants from places like Pathankot and neighbouring towns.

The window for the not-so-fortunate lot also broadened with shows like ‘Chak De Shahar Di Kudiyaan Te Gali De Gunde’ and ‘Zing Ne Bana Di Jodi’ that featured a group of small town boys trying to woo uptown girls.

‘Most of the talents are found in the small town. I have been organising workshops in the smallest cities possible and to my surprise I have seen amazing talents there,’ said Sandip Soparrkar, who judged ‘Chak De…’ on 9X.

‘In bigger cities, opportunities are aplenty, but small town people have less options. And programmes like ‘Chak De’ really give the small towners a big platform to showcase their talent,’ added the internationally acclaimed choreographer who is currently in the judges’ panel of Zee TV’s children’s dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance Li’l Masters’.

Anurag Bedi, business head, Zing, told IANS: ‘What is more filmy than a love story of a small town guy and a high society girl? This concept had given birth to our reality show ‘Zing Ne Bana Di Jodi’ that increased our connect with audiences in smaller towns.’

‘Zing Ne…’ had eight couples being tested on grounds of compatibility for the grand prize of Rs.200,000 for a pair and an opportunity for them to host a show on the channel.

Winning is not important.

There are some like Meiyang Chang from Dhanbad in Jharkhand and Ankita Lokande from Nagpur who made it big despite losing the crown.

Raju Srivastava, who hails from Kanpur, worked with Kalyanji Anandji, Bappi Lahiri and Nitin Mukesh for stage shows, but he got his due only after participating in the comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’.

The small screen is knocking vigorously at the doors in small cities.

(Robin Bansal can be contacted at robin.b@ians.in)

Manipur bound trucks unwilling to ply on NH39

2010-06-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

Kohima, Jun 24 : Even though the blockade on National Highway 39 has been lifted, the Manipur bound trucks are still continuing to boycott the highway expressing apprehension over the security and non-payment of compensation for the damaged trucks in Nagaland.

The Nagaland government has already provided heavy security to the truckers to ply on the Highway 39 by deploying Nagaland Armed Police (NAP), Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), CRPF and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and only 11 trucks bound for Manipur left Dimapur yesterday only under heavy security cover by central Para-military forces. Sources said that two platoon of CRPF and three companies of ITBP have been deployed to provide security to the NH 39 from Dimapur to Mao Gate, the inter-state border point of Nagaland and Manipur and the Nagaland police like NAP and IRB personnel is providing logistic support to the forces.

Meanwhile, the Transport and Drivers Council (TDC) had reportedly resolved not to ply vehicles on NH 39 till the costs of damaged vehicles were compensated by the Centre.

Some of the trucks were damaged during the economic blockade by Naga organisations while few were reportedly damaged inside Manipur by the supporters of TDC for not obeying their dictate.

Sikkim aiming to be poverty free

2010-06-24T02:04:00.001-07:00

GANGTOK, June 24 – The State Government has set the target to make Sikkim the first-ever Poverty Free State of the country within the next four years. A comprehensive programme, involving all the Government departments will be undertaken for the purpose with special thrust on the poverty-stricken villages.

This was announced by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling in the Assembly yesterday. He was replying to the general discussion on the Budget in the House.

Chamling asserted that his Government is working for the overall development of the villages under the Village Development Action Plan. He said that each village will be provided with all the basic infrastructure.

Referring to the proposed Kisan Bazars at District and Development Block levels, the Chief Minister said that these will be important channels of reaching the produces of the villages to the national and international markets, equipped with facilities like playgrounds, community centres, etc. He revealed that the Government plans to set up community centres in each of the Gram Panchayats.

Reiterating his Government’s resolve to convert Sikkim into a fully Organic State by the year 2015, Chamling stressed that this will require a trained manpower of at least 1,000 persons.

North by Northeast

2010-06-24T01:55:00.001-07:00

Sharon Fernandes

Jakoi is a huge bamboo scoop with which the Assamese catch fish from shallow ponds and rivers. It is, for Delhiites, the new restaurant that opened at Assam Bhavan on 1 Sardar Patel Marg on Tuesday.

Mahor Guri (lentils seasoned with lime juice and chillies), Joha (flavoured, steamed rice), Kharisa (fermented bamboo shoots seasoned with red chillies), Maasor Sorsori (fish in a mustard sauce), Maasor Tenga (tangy fish curry) and chicken cooked in the hollow of the bamboo stem are some of the dishes that will be served at the restaurant.

“We are glad to bring Assamese food to Delhi,” says Paparee Bezbaruah of Paradise Group of Hotels and Restaurants, which runs Jakoi and two other restaurants in Assam. “There are many here who will enjoy our cuisine.” Assamese food though will be a different experience to the spice-friendly Delhi palate. It is characterised by a delicate, even sparse, use of spices, bamboo shoots and xaak (vegetables) that could be dried or fermented, and ferns like dhekia that are cooked with lentils. There are pumpkin flower fritters, fish with gooseberries or spinach, plantain flowers cooked with chickpea and kharoli (a paste of mustard and tamarind). Fish, duck and pigeon are the meat of choice on the menu. But the staple is rice — there are Sira Pulao (pilaf), Doi Aru Komal Chaul (rice with curd and jaggery) and Hurum (puffed rice with jaggery and sweets).

The vegetarian dishes come for Rs 40-100, and the non-vegetarian Rs 100-270. The thalis come for Rs 180 (vegetarian) and Rs 200 (non-vegetarian). There is a Parampara thali as well for Rs 350, with pigeon/duck curry, steamed fish and a dessert as additions to the regular thali, plus the promise of everything coming in bell-metal platters and bowls. Though the menu sports Chinese and continental dishes, we can only hope that they don’t invade Jakoi, and the restaurant doesn’t end up losing its Assamese flavour. For, this Bhavan restaurant could net quite a few fans in Delhi.

It is open from 11 am to 11 pm. Contact: 24355555

Northeast Girls Arrested on massage parlour sex racket

2010-06-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Chennai, Jun 21 : The police on Saturday claimed to have busted a sex racket following a raid on a massage parlour in Teynampet and arrested four persons. Four women — two from Manipur and two from Nepal — were rescued and sent to the government home in Mylapore.

Acting on a tip-off, police teams sent a decoy to the ‘Jai Rali Natural Health Spa’ in Teynampet. After confirming that the reported irregularities were indeed happening, the decoy informed the police teams waiting outside the spa.

The latter barged into the parlour and arrested Sunil, 32, of Kerala, Murali Kumar, 35, of Saidapet, Pugazhenthi, 38, of Jafferkhanpet and Suresh, 41, of Virugambakkam. Mani, who owns the outlet, is absconding.

Two Manipuri girls and two Nepali girls, who were ostensibly employees of the massage parlour but were allegedly indulging in sex work, were rescued and sent to a government home in Mylapore. The police said that Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 was charged for different types of services at the parlour.

The Teynampet police registered a case under Sections 3 (1), 4 (1) (a) and 7 (1) of the Immoral Trafficking Prohibition (ITP) Act.

Azad rains health sops on region

2010-06-21T01:38:00.000-07:00

Incentives for N-E docs

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad being greeted with a japi and xorai at the seminar in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, June 21: Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced special concessions for the Northeast to boost healthcare facilities, striking an emotional chord with the region that he said shares similar problems, including insurgency, faced by his home state of Jammu and Kashmir.

For the Northeast’s medical graduates, Azad announced additional marks in the All India Post- Graduate Medical Entrance Examination if they served in the rural areas of their states. Those who will serve for one, two and three years will get an additional 10, 20 and 30 per cent marks respectively.

Azad said several concessions would be made to create a range of healthcare facilities including setting up of medical colleges for doctors, keeping in mind the various bottlenecks and problems like inaccessibility and insurgency faced by the Northeast.

He made the announcement at Immunity 2010, a daylong seminar on initiatives taken by the UPA government in the health sector for development of the region. It was organised by the Assam unit of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the youth wing of the Congress, here this morning.

“The ministry has reduced the minimum area required for setting up a medical college from 25 to 20 acres across the country. For the northeastern states, it would not be necessary to have 20 acres at a single location. Considering the scarcity of vast stretches of land at one single place because of the hilly terrain of the region, a medical college could be set up at two different locations within a 10 km radius,” he said.

Azad said his ministry had reduced the requisite bed capacity for any hospital in the region from 300 to 200 with bed occupancy slashed from 80 per cent to 60 per cent. The new medical colleges would require only six laboratories instead of the all-India requirement of 14, he announced.

“I am from Jammu and Kashmir which faces similar problems to those faced by the Northeast, like difficult terrain, insurgency, a sense of aloofness among the people from mainstream India. So I not only understand the problems of the region, but feel them from my heart. The Centre will give funds to the state governments in the region to enable them to give extra monetary incentives to doctors working in inaccessible areas,” the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said.

Azad said he would highlight the Maram scheme of the Assam government during a conference of Indian-origin doctors in the US scheduled to be held in Washington next week. Under this scheme, a patient gets Rs 75 when admitted to a government hospital. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said Dispur would soon launch a healthcare scheme for the students.

The hottest chillies in the world!

2010-06-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

Kushalrani Gulab

For years, Ismail Ali has been assisting Parveen Robbani in the fine art of making pickles. Naturally, this involves handling chillies. Occasionally, says Ali, he forgets the warning that all chilli handlers are given, about not touching your face without first washing your hands. But he’s so used to hot stuff that he’s unconcerned about ill effects. However, ask if he’s ever touched his face by accident when he’s worked with bhut jalokias, and he freezes. “No,” he says, firmly. “When I’m handling bhut jalokias, I never forget what I’m doing.”
Sitting in the living room of the Robbanis’ Guwahati flat, you know exactly why Ali is so careful. It’s obvious from the pungent reek emanating from the pile of bhut jalokias on the dining table some 10 feet away. It’s evident from the fact that Parveen Robbani wears rubber gloves even when she’s ladling her bhut jalokia pickle into packets for the market, not actually touching it with her hands. It’s clear from the anxiety on Parveen’s husband Arif’s face as he warns you to wash your hands and face with soap even though all you’ve done is lean over the pickle jar to look at the bhut jalokias. Because the bhut jalokia is the hottest chilli in the world. No one treats it with anything less than the greatest respect.
Feel the burn
The hottest chilli in the world? What does that mean? Well, technically, the bhut jalokia measures 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which means it contains the highest naturally occurring amount of capsaicin (the pungent chemical in chillies) in the world. SHUs are based on the number of times an extract from a chilli must be diluted in sugar water to lose its heat. So the bhut jalokia extract had to be diluted more than 10 lakh times before the testers could declare it heat-free.
Impressive though that sounds, it’s difficult to understand how hot the bhut jalokia can be unless you compare it to something familiar. So figure this out. The ordinary hari mirch measures 15,000-30,000 SHUs, the Andhra Guntur sannam measures 35,000-40,000 SHU, the Kashmiri mirch measures 1,500-2,000 SHUs, and the Simla mirch measures zero SHUs. The reek of the bhut jalokia is so strong that it keeps elephants at bay, and it’s so pungent that scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation announced that it could be used to make the world’s first non-lethal hand grenade.
But till the 2000s, no one had ever heard of it. No one outside the North East of India, that is, where the bhut jalokia, also known as the Naga jalokia, the bih jalokia, the raja mirch and the u morich, has been eaten for 500 years, according to Dr Ananta Saika, professor at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat.
That changed in 2007, when the Guinness Book of World Records recognised the bhut jalokia as the world’s hottest chilli based on tests at New Mexico State University, US, in which the chilli beat the previous record holder, the 577,000 SHU Red Savina Habanera.
Since then, the bhut jalokia has not only been the subject of much excitement amongst the chilli-heads of the world (chilli-heads being people who are addicted to the rush of happy-making endorphins that the capsaicin in chillis release), but also a huge amount of business curiosity from both potential buyers of the chilli and the states that grow it. For instance, with such a high level of capsaicin, the bhut jalokia seems perfect for the health industry, which uses the chemical to make pain-killing creams for arthritis and topical creams for skin disorders. And it’s also useful for pepper sprays for crowd control and self-defence.
Its colour also attracts the cosmetics industry, which uses it for lipsticks. And there’s the food industry. Hot sauces – really hot sauces – are much in demand, and international chilli cultivators are already growing the bhut jalokia and its hybrids and selling its sauces and pastes at supermarkets worldwide.
All of this has made at least two North East states, Nagaland and Assam, realise that their beloved chilli has big money-making potential in the world. And in the country. And even in the North East itself, where people who have always used the bhut jalokia now regard it with awe.
“We’ve always eaten it, but we didn’t know it was the hottest chilli in the world,” laughs Dr Jyotsna Devi, professor of plant breeding and genetics at the AAU. “But since the Guinness certification, we’ve been very proud of it. It’s a great thrill to get letters from people outside Assam, asking for its seeds.”
Some like it hot
It’s a thrill, yes, but it’s also a matter of concern for the Assamese, who worry that this outside interest in the bhut jalokia may cause the North East to lose the chilli just as it has found it. Which is why, in 2008, the government of Nagaland applied for and received Geographical Indicator (GI) status for what it calls the Naga Mircha, and the Assam government is working on the same.
“GI status is vital, because the seeds of the bhut jalokia are available all over the world, and now everyone is trying to cultivate it commercially,” explains Dr Saikia. “If they are successful, we will be nowhere in the picture.” But though the government of Nagaland has patented the chilli, the bhut jalokia is not a Naga property alone.
“It grows wild all over the North East, as well as in the hilly regions of Bangladesh, Myanmar and even Cambodia,” says Ashish Chopra, environmentalist turned culinary historian who’s published a book of recipes from the North East and been a big fan of the bhut jalokia since he was a child trotting after his anthropologist father in the North East.
Cooked in special dishes (primarily by the Nagas and Manipuris, while the Assamese tend to eat it on the side), smoked, dried, pickled, cut into tiny pieces and salted, infused in oil that’s later used for cooking, the bhut jalokia is a big part of North East cuisine where the taste has always tended towards the hot.
“People here don’t like the North Indian green chilli,” says Dr Devi. “Our chillies are hotter than them, and the preference here is for the hot.”
But there’s hot and then there’s the bhut jalokia. Though several types of chillies are grown in Assam, including the mem jalokia (named after memsahibs because they’re white), the Krishna jalokia (purple-black), and the dhan or khud jalokia (tiny chillies, the size of grains of Assamese rice), and all of them are hotter than the hari mirch, none are as hot as the bhut jalokia.
Which means that not everyone can eat the bhut jalokia. While Parveen Robbani struggles to explain why the chilli means so much to her, finally giving up with “I love it because I like it!” and Himanga Sonowal, additional development officer at the Golaghat office of agriculture, offers a bemused “Well, ye-es!” when asked if he eats the chilli, Arif Robbani shudders at the thought of it. And there are gales of laughter at the Gogoi household in Guwahati, when Thagi Gogoi, retired government official, explains why he tries to escape eating anything with the bhut jalokia in it: “It doesn’t upset the stomach, but it does set the mouth on fire and you do feel the burn when you go to the bathroom.”

The heat is on
That’s a point about the bhut jalokia that requires investigation – the fact that though it’s very, very hot, it doesn’t upset the stomach. Its effects are the opposite in fact – it’s often prescribed as a home remedy for gastric trouble. “Recently we even got an order from Poland, where a doctor prescribed one bhut jalokia a day for a patient with stomach cancer,” says Dr Saikia who also consults at Frontal Agritech, a company set up by his wife, food technologist Dr Leena Saika, which has been marketing the bhut jalokia since 2004.
How the bhut jalokia works on the stomach no one knows. In fact, there’s not much about this chilli that anyone knows. It is a complete mystery.
“It’s never been cultivated in an organised way,” says Dr Harshajyoti Barooah, officer on special duty at the department of horticulture, Assam. “It’s always grown wild, or in kitchen gardens. Now we’re trying to cultivate it commercially.” In 2009, Assam’s agriculture minister Pramila Rani Brahma announced assistance of Rs 13,000 per hectare to farmers willing to cultivate it; now that has gone up to Rs 18,500 per hectare. That’s possibly because of something no one had realised about this chilli. It doesn’t want to be tamed.
“What we’ve learned about it so far,” says Dr Barooah, “is that if you let it grow wild, it will grow. But if you try to grow it, it demands a lot of attention.”
In its first year of commercial cultivation, the bhut jalokia is behaving like someone in need of psychological help. If you take this analogy further, that’s because the chilli itself doesn’t really know what it is.
“It cross-pollinates easily with other plants, so everywhere it’s a different shape, size, colour, pungency level,” says Dr Mantu Bhuyan of the North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat. “In Jorhat alone I can show you six or seven variations. In the entire North East, there are 40 or 50 variations. It isn’t possible to test every one.”
Since the bhut jalokia is all over the place genetically speaking, researchers at the AAU who have the task of working out a package of cultivation practices for farmers are bemused by the number and variety of diseases the plant is subject to. “It’s also very sensitive to climate and local ecology,” says Dr Devi. “For instance, we’ve been trying to grow a variant from Nagaland at the AAU, but we just haven’t managed to pull it off.”
It’s important to know how to grow the different variants, because if the bhut jalokia is to have commercial viability, its attributes, such as colour, pungency, shape and so on, have to be standardised. If buyers want it for its capsaicin level, then the level had better always be what the buyers need. If buyers want it for its colour, then it had better always be that red. If everything is perfect, the chilli can sell for Rs 1,000 per kilo, says Dr Barooah. But if not, the price can vary.
Fire down below
But though there is no package of cultivation practices to work with and though the demand for the chilli seems a little vague at present, farmers are turning their fields over to the bhut jalokia.
“It’s a high value crop,” says Dr Saikia. “If it’s given proper care, a farmer can become a lakhpati from one bigha.” That’s what Narayan Bora, a farmer in Assam’s Golaghat district, hopes will happen. His idea was to begin a tea estate, but for quick returns, he decided to give 15 bighas of his land to bhut jalokias.
“I think I’ll make Rs 10 lakhs from bhut jalokias,” he says. “And next year, I want to give 40 bighas more to the chillies.”
Bora is just one of the 350 farmers in Golaghat who are attempting to grow the bhut jalokia as part of the government’s technology mission, says Himanga Sonowal of the district’s agricultural office. “They required slight motivation to begin,” he says, “But they’re not worried, because there is a demand for it in the local market at least.”
Right now, the local market keeps them going – though you can hear the click of a calculator in Bora’s head when you tell him that the chilli, which is Rs 10 for six pieces in Jorhat, is Rs 10 for four in Guwahati and Rs 10 per piece in Mumbai. But there are big hopes of big national and international orders.
“Already, we are exporting to several countries including Australia and Venezuela,” says Dr Barooah. “And for marketing, we hope to tie up with ITC.”
And the future seems bright at Frontal Agritech. “Now companies in India are also asking for the bhut jalokia,” says Dr Leena Saikia. “In fact, one company has just asked for 5,000 kilos every week.”
What the demand actually is, no one can tell as yet. And whether the bhut jalokia will ever allow itself to be tamed is another big question. But neither the Assam government nor Minakhi Kasari, president of the Ujwal Mahila Samiti, a Golaghat-based NGO for women which has sunk money, time and effort into farming the bhut jalokia, will allow themselves to be pessimistic.
Asked if she worries about the risk, Kasari has only one thing to say. “It’s human nature to hope, isn’t it?”
Common property
Much as we’d like to believe that North Eastern chillis at least originated in India, that is not true. Chillis were ‘discovered’ in South America by the Spanish. When the Portuguese Vasco Da Gama came to India, he carried chillies with him, and they spread all over the sub-continent and Asia.
India had always had a taste for the hot thanks to black pepper (kali mirch) and long pepper (pippali). So we reacted to the chillis in a ‘where-have-you-been-all-my-life!’ manner and adopted them at once. “Still, we’ve had the bhut jalokia for 500 years,” says Dr Ananta Saikia of the AAU, Jorhat. “Surely we can call them indigenous by now?”
White hot!
This year, the British media announced that a UK cultivator had grown a chilli hotter than the bhut jalokia. Called the Infinity (see picture above), it measured 1,067,286 SHUs.
Though he’s waiting for a reply from the Guinness Book of Records, the developer of the Infinity, Woody Woods of Fire Foods, a company that makes hot sauces and pastes, is not challenging the bhut jalokia yet.
“I grow the super-hot Bhut Jalokias, Trinidad Scorpians, Fatalis and 7-Pods. Two of these super-hots crossbred and from that the Infinity grew,” he says. “But we will wait until the next batch of results to confirm the continuous level of heat in the plants.”
Naga Pork Curry
A significant feature of Naga food is its unique flavour; it can be either very hot or totally bland. Raja chilli (bhut jalokia) is an important ingredient in a lot of Naga dishes. Sometimes, it’s the main ingredient. Here is a simple Naga Pork curry with raja chilli recipe, courtesy Ashish Chopra, from his book of recipes, NE Belly.
Ingredients: Pork 1 kg with meat and fat; Garlic crushed 20 cloves; Ginger crushed 50 gms; Salt to taste; One raja mircha fresh or smoked and dried; Tomatoes 400 gms pureed. Serves 4
Preparation
Wash and slice the pork and set aside, puree the tomatoes and keep aside along with crushed garlic and ginger.
Method
Put the pork in a thick bottomed pan, add salt to taste, add half a glass of water and let it cook until half done. Then add the tomato puree, ginger and garlic and let the pork cook until tender. When it is almost done, add the raja chilli and stir until the pork is cooked and tender. Once done, transfer it to a bowl and serve with steamed rice. It is delicious and the flavour of the raja chilli adds marvels to your tastebuds.

Manipur can't breathe easy yet

2010-06-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Even though the more than two month-long blockade of Manipur seems to be ending now, reports suggest trucks carrying essential supplies are yet to fully reach the state.

The Naga Student's Federation (NSF) declared it would temporarily lift its siege after the Centre ordered paramilitary forces to clear the roads. And around 20 companies of the CRPF and the BSF have been deployed to clear National Highways 39 and 53 into the state.

But that it took so long for the blockade to end suggests the complicated and complex nature of the problem in the Northeast. It also posits the failure of the central and state governments to first control the situation and then intervene much earlier to end the blockade of two national highways to Imphal.

The result wasn't just the scarcity of essential goods, with attendant massive rice in prices of what was available, and the immense hardship ordinary people had to face, but a further deterioration in ethnic relations in the region. With perhaps that in mind, Union home secretary G K Pillai has convened a meeting with the chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur in New Delhi.

But the wider problem in the region is antagonistic ethnic politics entrenching itself to the point where the positions of the two camps are completely mutually exclusive — the idea of Naga integration, which means a greater Nagaland that includes parts of Manipur, leaves no room for the idea of preserving Manipur as it is.

The reason for the blockade wasn't just the Manipur government's decision to not let NSCN leader Th Muivah visit the village of his birth within Manipur, but also Naga opposition to ‘toothless' autonomous district councils, and the fears within Manipur that demands for such autonomy would bolster the claims for a greater Nagaland.

The area is almost a classic example of the formation of nationalism's , and the concurrent emergence of competing identity politics. For now, the Centre must, along with the state governments, work to reduce polarisation . Inclusive politics, ultimately, has to erode the notion that multiple ethnic identities cannot coexist.

2 Manipuris held for auto theft; may be militants: cops

2010-06-16T22:34:00.001-07:00

New Delhi: Two Manipuris were arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell for their involvement in auto theft cases in the Capital on Tuesday night from near Nizamuddin flyover, said the police.

The duo, Mohammed Abbas (31) and Razzauddin (26), were staying in a rented accommodation in Indira Vikas Colony of Mukherjee Nagar, added the police.

“Abbas has so far been found to be involved in as many as 12 cases of murder, including the killing of one India Reserve Battalion personnel and two Sarpanches in separate incidents in Manipur,” said a senior police officer.

Abbas had allegedly been staying here since he fled from Manipur after getting bail in a murder case in 2008. The police said they are also investigating whether the duo are also members of a Manipur’s militant outfit. The duo used to steal vehicles and sell them in Manipur after preparing their forged documents, said the police.

Point and shoot

2010-06-16T02:50:00.000-07:00

Rob Horsefield

High in the Khasi hills of North East India stands Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya. It’s known as “the Scotland of the East” because of its resemblance to the Scottish highlands. Tall pine conifers line steep hill roads that zigzag and up and down the valleys. It’s also home to a great swathe of Presbyterian churches, founded by Scottish missionaries in the mid-19th century.

The game is on Shillong is home to a large number of Khasi tribes people. Every day (apart from Sunday) men from four archery clubs gather to shoot arrows at a cylindrical target for four minutes. The event, known as “Siat Khnam”, is held twice a day at 4 and 5 pm. It’s not just a pleasant afternoon out; archery is serious business. All around Shillong and its neighbouring towns and villages, there are small betting booths taking stakes on the outcome of the contest. I had arrived in town just in time to see what it was all about.

By the time I, along with my Assamese guide who surprisingly had no clue about the game, arrived at ‘Saw-furlong’ (the venue), the first contest was well underway. A crowd of Khasi men seated in a semi-circle, firing arrows at a cylindrical drum shaped target. The place was packed with players and onlookers. After all, there was big money at stake on the outcome.

The arrows flew continuously into the target. Some secured themselves firmly; others ricocheted off and fell to the floor. Finally, a canvas sheet was raised in front of the target, stopping anymore arrows from securing a place. The local master of ceremonies, with great flourish, called a halt to proceedings and thus the first contest came to an end.

The crowd surged forward to witness the count and the tension was palpable.

Sorting the winners
Naturally enough, arrows that had missed the target were dismissed. Arrows that were considered neither in nor out were cast aside and eliminated from the count. Finally, a grand total was agreed on and the gamblers pressed even further forward to hear the verdict.

These people weren’t interested in the grand total; their bets had been laid on correctly predicting the last two digits only. With a great theatrical flourish, the master of ceremonies threw arrows into the ground in front of him.

“One, two, three (the crowd hung on every number), four, five, (folk were already on their mobile phones contacting people back in town with the result)…six!” And there we had it; the result for 4 pm was 5 and 6. The result was immediately relayed back to the betting booths and the payouts began in earnest. So if you ever find yourself in this wonderful hill town, be sure to check out the archery contest.

Getting there
By Air
There are both direct flights available from Mumbai and New Delhi to Shillong, Meghalaya, as well as ones with a stopover in Kolkata

By Train
The nearest railhead in Shillong is Guwahati. You can book a train from Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata to Guwahati and take a bus to Shillong

Roots Of Insurgency In North East India (Hardcover)

2010-06-16T02:36:00.000-07:00

Summary of Roots Of Insurgency In North East India

Insurgency in Northeast India is expected to be useful to all those who are involved in the peace processes in Northeast India because a problem of its magnitude cannot be solved without understanding the root cause. The book brings into focus that there is nothing like a north-eastern insurgency and that there are several autonomous or isolated insurgencies, militancies and other movements in different parts and ethnic areas of the region which have created an atmosphere of turmoil or an insurgent situation for the entire region.
About Author :
Author of ten major works and more than two hundred research papers and editor of fifteen collections, Professor J B Bhattacharjee is a distinguished social scientist and a pioneer in Northeast India Studies. The founder General Secretary of the North East India History Association (NEIHA) and a former President of the North East India Council for Social Science Research (NEICSSR), the foundation of the Institute of Northeast India Studies at Kolkata is his latest initiative in bringing Northeast India Studies into national and global focus.
Contents :
Preface Propositions Presentations Interactions Appendix: Our Participants Select Bibliography Index

The 'God particle' may exist in five forms, Large Hadron Collider's rival project finds

2010-06-15T04:41:00.001-07:00

The elusive "God particle" - or Higgs boson - being sought in the Large Hadron Collider may exist in multiple forms, according to a new study.

By Heidi Blake

The Tevatron particle accelerator at Fermilab in Illinois Photo: Fermilab

Finding the Higgs boson is the primary aim of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment in Geneva, but new results from a rival study taking place in the US suggest there may be five versions of the elusive subatomic particle, which has never been detected despite five decades of research.

Leon Lederman, the Nobel laureate, dubbed the theoretical boson "the God particle" because its discovery could unify understanding of the content of the universe and help humans "know the mind of God".

It is crucial to the accepted Standard Model of the cosmos which explains how subatomic particles are bound together by three of the four fundamental forces of nature - weak nuclear force, strong nuclear force and electromagnetism.
The Higgs boson is thought to mediate the force through which all the other particles acquire mass. But scientists overseeing the DZero experiment at the Tevatron particle accelerator in Illinois said the suggestion that five different particles could be responsible for this transaction may point to new laws of physics beyond the Standard Model.
Researchers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory outside Chicago observed that collisions of protons and anti-protons produced pairs of matter particles one per cent more often than they yielded anti-matter particles.
This "asymmetry" of matter and anti-matter is beyond what could be explained by the Standard Model and could be accounted for by the existence of five Higgs bosons with similar masses but different electric charges, the researchers said.
Three would have a neutral charge and one each would have a negative and positive electric charge. This is known as the two-Higgs doublet model.
Dr Adam Martin said: "In models with an extra Higgs doublet, it's easy to have large new physics effects like this DZero result," he explained.
"What's difficult is to have those large effects without damaging anything else that we have already measured.
"The Standard Model fits just about every test we've thrown at it. To fit in a new effect in one particular place is not easy."
Evidence for the Higgs boson in one or many forms could be uncovered by the LHC, the world's most powerful "atom smasher" which is buried 100 metres under the French-Swiss border.
The researchers have published the latest DZero study on arXiv.org. The results were reported by Symmetry magazine.

Central forces yet to reach Manipur

2010-06-15T01:53:00.001-07:00

The blockade in Manipur will be lifted on Tuesday evening, but the state is still waiting for Central forces. After meeting the Prime Minister on Monday, Naga groups have promised to lift the 64-day economic blockade in the state.

Naga students though say blockade will resume if their demands are not met.

The blockade has hit the people of Manipur very hard with prices of essential commodities skyrocketing and medical supplies running out.

The first convoy of trucks escorted by CRPF from Assam through Nagaland and into Imphal is expected only on Friday.

NSCN (IM) chief TH Muivah is still in Nagaland and hasn't given up his demand of entering Manipur to visit his native village. Muivah's proposed visit which Manipur government has been resisting is also a flashpoint in this crisis and needs resolution.

Thailand keen to invest in North East India

2010-06-15T00:03:00.000-07:00

Shillong: 'We are keen on investing in the North East, but to push forward our plans, the existing investment policy needs to be flexible.' This was the immediate reaction of Thai Ambassador to India Krit Kraichitti.

Talking to NNN, Kraichitti said that this region can attract substantial investments from the Thai companies. 'We have identified three core areas, including tourism, infrastructure and aviation in the North East in which we can invest with the help of the North-eastern Governments,' he said.

Elaborating more in this regard, he revealed that Air Asia, a leading aviation company of Thailand, is willing to connect Guwahati by its services that will further cement relations between North East India and Thailand. 'We are also trying to include this region in our tourism circuit so that Thai tourists can visit the Buddhist sites scattered in Upper Assam,' he said, adding that tourism can be a major industry in the region if it is harnessed properly.

Kraichitti along with a 20-member Thai cultural team are now in Guwahati to participate in the 17 th International Trade Fair organised by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA).

The Thai envoy also underscored the need for road connectivity between Thailand and the North East via Myanmar. 'Proper connectivity is a must to boost bilateral trade,' he added.

On Indo-Thai bilateral trade, Kraichitti informed that the volume of trade between India and Thailand has been growing exponentially during the last couple of years. Indian companies’ investments in Thailand now stand at $1.5 billion, similarly Thai companies have also made substantial investments in India. Since the North East has old historic ties with Thailand, it can woo Thai investments by way of involving the local traders,' he opined.

Replying to a question about India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he stated that it was a great move on the part of the Indian Government. 'India is now emerging as a major economic power in Asia and the new FTA will definitely enhance trade ties with Thailand. Moreover, Thailand and India are the members of BIMSTEC which always pitches for increasing volume of trade and mutual relations,' Krichitti stated.

How to monetize your blog

2010-06-13T00:11:00.001-07:00

Looking to expand your blog audience beyond just your mom and make some real moola? Social Media Today put together a list of ten effective ways to monetize your blog that will have you rolling in Washingtons (or Lincolns, if you’re so fortunate) in no time.
A sampling:

Google Adsense
Sponsored reviews
Consulting services

Full list at Social Media Today.

Stop futures trading in food to control prices: Tripura government

2010-06-11T22:16:00.001-07:00

AGARTALA - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front government in Tripura Friday urged the central government stop futures trading in food commodities to control the rising prices of essential goods.

Presenting the state budget for 2010-2011 in the assembly, Finance Minister Badal Chaudhury also sought extension of irrigation facilities, building up of buffer stocks in food deficit areas, providing adequate fertiliser subsidy, strengthening public distribution system and containing transportation costs.

“For bringing down the abnormal rise of prices, it is essential to boost production of food grains and essential commodities,” he added.

Blaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) central government for “bringing a number of legislations and take several measures to curtail the autonomy of the states”, he also noted that in the union budget, the food subsidy has been reduced by over Rs.400 crore despite the Congress’ commitment to enact a food security legislation.

The minister presented a tax-free Rs.6,693 crore budget with a deficit of Rs.186 crore for the current fiscal.

The budget, presented on the first day of the three-week session of the assembly, proposed a substantial increase of funds for the urban and rural poor for providing maximum number of employment days in a year.

The budget, which is 2.11 percent over the revised budget (Rs.6,555 crore) for 2009-10, predicted growth of state’s tax and other revenue by implementing efficient tax collection system, adopting various economic measures, and improving financial management and austerity in government expenditure.

The finance minister has also announced several sops for the government’s regular and contingent employees besides to offer thousands of government jobs in the education department.

“Gradual removal of poverty, improving quality of life with special focus on the poor and downtrodden, and generation of employment within limited resources are the main objectives of the budget,” Chaudhury said in his budget speech.

Preparatory talks on Green India begins

2010-06-11T22:15:00.001-07:00

GUWAHATI, June 12 – Assam and other States of the Northeast would gain special focus in the National Mission for a Green India or the Green India Mission that seeks to improve the quality and extent of tree cover in India. This was emphatically spelled out by Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh who launched the first of a series of national consultations in Guwahati today.

Reasoning that the region and the Eastern Himalayas were among mega biodiversity hotspots in the world, Ramesh mentioned that the information gaps about the areas have to be filled, and special interest was required not just to protect the green cover, but to improve the quality.

He revealed that while Assam did have around 38 per cent of forest cover, a considerable part of that was ‘degraded’ and there was definite scope for improvement. “I urge all forest personnel and other stakeholders to consider the issue of quality of green cover,” he remarked.

Significantly, the Minister said a shift was required to monitor and intervene in protecting and improving the forest cover of the Northeast and other parts of the country. Although assessments have been done every two years, such efforts were not adequate. The present requirement was real-time information about the state of the forests, a task that could be performed better when India has its first dedicated satellite to map its forests by 2013.

Acknowledging that there was significant ground to be covered in the area of climate change, he said that a new centre will come up in the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong that would have satellite links with all the NE States. The Centre would aid study of the climate change issue from a local perspective and would help build strategies related to monitoring and mitigation efforts.

Appreciating the Centre for Environment Education for organizing the first national consultation on the Green India Mission, he hoped that all groups of civil society would participate in shaping the final document that would be adopted in the future.

In the consultation, participants highlighted several issues, which they believed have to be addressed for the mission to be successful.

There was embarrassment in store for the Union Minister when he disclosed that he was unaware of Assam having a Ramsar site. Responding to comments made by Prof A Goswami, he expressed his surprise that Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site, was facing threats to its existence. It was quite evident that the State Government had never bothered to enlighten the Minister about the condition of the wetland that is decreasing in size over the years.

Environmental activist Soumyadeep Datta said that there was a need to have probity in the manner in which rhino horns were sought to be disposed off by the Forest Department. He warned that in the present system there were loopholes that could be used by unscrupulous people.

Others who attended underlined the need to conserve the wetlands, grasslands and hill ranges of Northeast India, all of which created the unique biodiversity of the region. Ramesh on his part said that his office is prepared to listen to the people, and they could also communicate their views and recommendations with his officers.

7 signs that you're an A-list blogger

2010-06-11T21:36:00.001-07:00

Have you wondered what separates the A-list blogger from those that are lower in the alphabet? Anabel Candy has compiled a list of seven signs of A-list potential. Three of the signs are:

A blog that looks like a professional designed it—as opposed to a template.
A well-defined topic and frequent updates.
A friendly and engaged feel to the posts including responses to comments.

If you’re trying to break into the A-list, you’ll find Anabel’s list very handy. The full story is at ProBlogger.
More blogging tips.

Manipur blockade: Public unrest feared

2010-06-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

Imphal, June 9 : As the indefinite economic blockade on Manipur enforced by Nagas reached the eve of completing two months on Wednesday, the state faced acute shortage of food and live-saving medicines, with a threat of public violent unrest looming large.

“The food crisis is simply acute and also there is a severe shortage of life saving medicines with the blockade on and still no chance of breaking the deadlock,” N Biren Singh, Manipur government spokesperson, said.

The indefinite economic blockade on National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam) was launched by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) since April 12 against the Manipur government’s ban on entry of Naga rebel leader Th. Muivah.

Muivah’s proposed visit to his birthplace Somdal, in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, was banned by the Manipur government on the plea that his visit could create communal tension.

Police-public clashes on May 6, the day Muivah was scheduled to visit Somdal, had claimed three lives and left about 50 others injured.

Muivah’s Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has been demanding a greater ‘Nagalim’, which includes Naga-dominated areas of Manipur – a demand to which Manipur government is opposed to.

As the economic blockade stood on the eve of completing two months, this landlocked state has been left to dire consequences.

“Hungry people can get angry fast. We cannot rule out violent protests against short-supply of essential commodities by the people,” Biren Singh said.

Trucks carrying essential goods have been stranded on the way, even as the government opened a small trickle of supply of food materials and medicines though an alternate route, which is, however, to less to meet the demand-supply gap.

Some commodities were also airlifted to the state, but the people of the state do not view this as permanent solution.

A kilogram of rice comes for Rs 70, compared to the Rs 20-Rs 24 elsewhere, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 200, while a cooking gas cylinder is priced at Rs 1,000-Rs 1,200.

Medicines are in such short supply that barring the emergency operations, hospitals have long ago stopped all other surgeries.

The Manipur Government had issued arrest warrant against ANSAM acting president Davud Choro and United Naga Council (UNC) acting president Samson Remei.

The UNC also supports the indefinite economic blockade.

Manipur govt told to revoke arrest warrant

2010-06-09T02:12:00.001-07:00

Dimapur, June 9 : The United Naga Council of Manipur today issued a 5-day ultimatum to the Manipur state government to revoke the arrest warrants issued to some leaders of the council as well as of the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (ANSAM). The UNC has warned that the attempt to ‘criminalize’ the civil organizations would invite intensified ‘agitations’ in every way.
A statement from the UNC condemned the state government’s ‘design to criminalize the UNC for demanding justice for the tribal people’. “The presidential council of the UNC is constrained to issue an ultimatum of 5 days from the date of this press statement to the Manipur state government to revoke the arrest warrant on its president and also withdraw the bounty announced in connection with the same, failing which the UNC will have no option but to intensify its agitation on all possible fronts,” the UNC stated.
UNC sets 5-day ultimatum
The UNC expressed shock that its president and the president of the ANSAM have been declared “wanted” and fixing of rewards on them by the Government of Manipur.
“After out rightly rejecting the demands of the tribal people on the ADC election, the Government of Manipur is relentlessly trying to put into place district councils in the hill areas under the unwanted District Council (Hill Areas)Act, 2008 through a stage managed election process.”
Instead of addressing the ‘material issue’ at hand, the UNC said, the Government of Manipur has chosen to issue arrest warrants to the Naga leaders. The UNC explained: “This brazen action has followed an invitation for talks on the issue of ADC election and economic blockade from the Government of Manipur in the form of a letter from the Chief Secretary through the DC, Senapati addressed to the President UNC. The information on the invitation was received at 2.30 PM of the 26th May, 2010 on the day of polling for the 1st phase of ADC elections, when any talk on the issue has become impertinent and this response came after a lapse of over 3 month when the demand for reviewing of the Act was submitted to the State Government.”

Tackling Ulfa: North- East India

2010-06-09T00:36:00.000-07:00

Tackling Ulfa: North- East India Book Description

Having squarely and successfully confronted the ULFA during 'Operation Bajrang' and 'Operation Rhino' in Assam, the author provides rare insights into the organization - its genesis, its growth, its leadership, its objectives, its motivations, its strategy and its vulnerabilities. The book offers robust and realistic politico-military solution to the ULFA problem, which has bedeviled the country for nearly three decades. The author's prescription for the ULFA menace has application in other insurgencies as well.
Rajinder Singh has contributed to Tackling Ulfa: North- East India as an author. Rajinder Singh is an internationally recognized expert teacher of meditation. He was elected president of the World Fellowship of Religions, and heads the Science of Spirituality, a non-profit, non-denominational organization with more than 400,000 members. He is also the author of Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation.

Publisher: Lancer

Author: Rajinder Singh

Language: English

ISBN:

1935501240

EAN:

9781935501244

No. of Pages: 407

Publish Date: 2010-6-30

Binding: Hardcover

Deliverable Countries: This product ships to United Arab Emirates, Australia, Belgium, Bahrain, Switzerland, China, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa.

ICFAI emerging as outstanding institute in North East India

2010-06-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

Imphal, June 8 : Started with just eight students in 2004, Institute of Chartered Financial Analyst of India University (ICFAI), Tripura has evolved as a promising educational institute in the North East India.

"Within this short period of time, we are successful in attracting students from different parts of the country with our excellent teaching techniques and state of art academic infrastructure", said ICFAI Vice-Chancellor Dr RK Patnaik.

Offering array of courses in Engineering, Management, Law and Education disciplines, the institute now boasts of having more than 1000 students pursuing different undergraduate and post graduate programmes.

Dr RK Patnaik said, "We started with just B Tech programme in 2004, but gradually added programmes likes MBA, MCA, BBA, BCA, BHTM, BSC (Comp), BSc Electronics, BBA-LLB (Hons) and BEd" .

Spread in over 32.52 acres, the institute's campus is located at Kamalghat Sadar of this North East State.

Dr RK Patnaik added, "Far from the chaotic atmosphere of urban life, the lush green surrounding of our institute offers a suitable ambiance for studies to the students" .

Regarding scholarship, RK Patnaik said that the institute does not award monetary scholarship but provides academic aid to outstanding students.

He added that the institute also provides counselling and extra classes to weak students.

With regards to placement, Thoidingjam Jayamand, a Computer Engineering student said, "As we have well equipped computer lab and excellent library facilities, we do not worry much about placement as we know we will pass out from ICFAI as a professionally trained person" .

The institute however has a full-fledged team which looks after placement and internship of the students.

Out of the total 189 students passed out from various courses, the University has placed 91 students so far in various companies, while 17 students have made their own arrangements and 80 students are pursuing higher studies.

Vice-Chancellor Dr RK Patnaik said, "The primary mission of the ICFAI University is to groom a cadre of professional men and women who have been imparted specialised skills" .

The institute also has separate hostels for boys and girls which can house 600 students.

The hostel is equipped with medical centre, gymnasium, common room with Television and other recreational facilities of sporting activities.

Manipur to prevent Muivah’s entry

2010-06-06T01:31:00.001-07:00

IMPHAL, June 6 – Manipur Government has deployed state forces at Liyai Khunou and Jessami near the Nagaland border in Ukhrul district to prevent entry of NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, reports PTI.

Official sources said today that about 200 police personnel and border security forces have been deployed at both the villages.

Muivah, who attempted to enter Manipur along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 39 last month by camping at Viswema in Nagaland, had moved to Pfutsero in that state in an attempt to cross into Ukhrul district via Jessami and Liyai Khunou.

The senior Naga rebel leader, who hails from Somdal in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, left his village about 40 years ago to wage an armed struggle.

The State Government and many civil organisations here were of the view that Muivah’s attempt to enter Manipur would create communal disharmony as the main demand of the NSCN-IM now was to form a greater Nagaland by taking Naga-settled areas of Manipur with the present Nagaland state, official sources said.

Muivah yesterday wound up his camp at Visema village on the Nagaland-Manipur border where he had been camping since May 5 and went to Pfutsero, Nagaland’s highest altitude town, 70 km away by road on a ‘peace mission’.

Conference of judges in north-east

2010-06-04T01:51:00.001-07:00

Aizawl, Jun 04 (PTI) A conference of judges and judicial magistrates in the state onAccess to Justice and Socio-economic Development of the North-Eastern states&aposwill be held here on monday and will be participated in by Justice Dr Mukundakam Sharma of the Supreme Court.
State law secretary P. Chakraborty told PTI that wide-ranging legal issues would be deliberated in the conference including domestic violence, laws on Foreigners Act, terrorism and human rights in the north east and right to education

Pillai to review northeast's law and order situation

2010-06-04T01:49:00.001-07:00

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Thursday arrived in Meghalaya to review the overall law and situation in the region with police chiefs of the eight northeastern states.

Pillai will Friday chair the board meeting of North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) and take stock of the functioning of academy in terms of imparting training and future development programmes.

'There are lots of issues that will be deliberated and I cannot share them with you,' NEPA director R.R. Verma told IANS.

He also said that the state police chiefs of eight northeastern states will attend the meeting.

Later in the day, Pillai is scheduled to meet Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat.

He will discuss the internal security situation and the boundary dispute with Assam, and review the progress of the border fencing work along the Bangladesh border.

Earlier, soon after his arrival from New Delhi, Pillai visited the headquarters of Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in the country.

He also inaugurated the Assam Rifles auditorium at Laitkor, around 20 km, from here. The auditorium is a state of the art facility with a seating capacity of 600.

Monsoon advances in the North-East

2010-06-02T05:54:00.001-07:00

The southwest monsoon has further advanced into entire Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and some parts of Sub-Himalayan west Bengal and Sikkim.

The deep depression over eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Arabian sea moved northwestwards and intensified into a cyclonic storm (PHET) at 1430 hrs yesterday and lay centred with a half degree of Latitude 16 degree north and Longitude 63.0 degree east, about 1060 kms westsouthwest of Mumbai and 1050 kms southwest of Naliya.

It further moved northwestwards and lay centred at 1730 hrs yesterday within half a degree of Latitude 16.5 degree northand Longitude 62.5 degree east. It moved northwestwards and furhter intensified into a severe cyclonci storm (PHET)at 0530 hrs today and lay centred within half degree of Latitude 17.5 degree north/Longitude 61.5 degree east, about 1200 kms westsouthwest of Mumbaiand 1000 kms southwest of Naliya.

Why photos are crucial to blogs

2010-06-01T09:53:00.001-07:00

If you take a look at a handful of the most popular blogs on the web, you’ll notice a few things they have in common. 1. The writers are passionate, and knowledgable about specific niches. 2. As a result, the writing is compelling. 3. They use images in their posts. Why? Because:

Images are a signal to visitors that a site’s material is premium.
Strategic imagery helps bloggers build their brand.
Images are mood setters.

Learn more about why images are vital to modern blogs at ShutterStock.
Learn to blog like a pro.

6 Powerful Life Hacks for Bloggers

2010-05-25T06:14:00.001-07:00

A Guest Post by David Turnbull of Adventures of a Barefoot Geek
Life hacking has evolved to mean many things but at its core it’s a term for geeks to describe their love of using tech skills to save time, automate boring tasks and confuse people with their array of hot keys, shell scripts and jargon.
As I become more comfortable with expressing my ideas through writing I felt it was time to focus on achieving the same aim with a bit more efficiency and cleverness. These are the solutions I came up with.

Write with Markdown

Writing for the web isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. There’s the ugly necessity of writing out HTML which, while not in any way difficult, makes your writing less readable during the editing process.
Markdown is the answer and the best way to explain Markdown is to show you what it does.
Let’s look at a standard HTML tag: Bold text goes here and now the Markdown equivalent: **Bold text goes here**. Doesn’t that look much nicer?
Every common HTML tag has a Markdown equivalent, allowing for improved readability while writing. On a small scale you may not notice much of an improvement, but click here to see a screenshot of this article written in Markdown.
For use with Wordpress, install the Markdown for WordPress plugin, which converts the syntax to HTML for your reader but maintains the original syntax for editing.
There’s the added advantage that writing Markdown syntax is quicker than writing out HTML and, in combination with TextExpander (more on this in a second) the time spent formatting your posts will be cut down to seconds.

Speed up your workflow with TextExpander

TextExpander is a killer app and a necessity for serious bloggers.
Here’s an example of its power:
Let’s say I want to create a link using the Markdown syntax. The syntax for that is [Anchor text goes here](http://sitename.com). It’s not much typing by default but all I need to type is :link.
TextExpander recognises that I’ve typed :link and:

Replaces it with the syntax I want.
Inserts the URL I wish to link to between the parentheses (taking it from the clipboard).
Launches an input field titled ‘Anchor text‚Äù that lets me add the link’s anchor text between the square brackets without breaking my flow. (Example)

Let that sink in for a moment. This is one example that saves me 2-3 seconds for every link I include in my articles.
Imagine how much time you could save after setting up your own rules. TextExpander do provide you with thousands of text substitutions out of the box though, so there’s no upfront work required to experience the benefits.

via problogger9

Helpline site for people from Northeast India

2010-05-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

Leaders in New Delhi jointly launched in 2007 a helpline-website to help students from northeast India, following increased incidents of rape and molestation of students from the region in the national capital.

North East Support Centre and Helpline website- www.nehelpline.net– aims to help students, especially women university students, from the region who fall victim to various social evils.

The website also displays news regarding the northeast people, who are suffering because of the crimes committed against them.

It was initiated by the leaders of All India Catholic Union and All India Christian Council as a response to reports young men and women being harassed and sexual abused in market and work places because of their unique features and culture.
Source: www.nehelpline.net

Small States in a Big World:

2010-05-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

Northeast States of India and the emerging ASEAN economic powerhouses

This paper was prepared by Dr. James R. Ruolngul for presentation at a seminar on ASEAN markets at Mizoram University in 2009. It was accepted. But unfortunately, due to some unexpected and unavoidable difficulties, the author could not attend the seminar.

Abstract
________________________
The Northeast states of India have become increasingly important in an increasingly globalised world. With its immense resources and potentials, this region is poised to become the ‘gateway’ of an emerging trade between India and Southeast Asia. With recent developments, and especially with the India-ASEAN FTA, this region has come to be seen in a new light. This article explores the possibilities and potential products for trade, the infrastructural facilities, the multifarious problems and the necessary steps to be taken for trade led developments to occur in the region.

Introduction
The growth of Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) has been one of the most significant developments in contemporary international relations. This trend towards freer trade and RTAs has accelerated particularly after the Cold War ended. Out of the 108 RTAs notified to the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) over the period 1948-1994, thirty three of them were established in the early 1990s. By the year 2000, almost half of the 220 RTAs notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were initiated after the Cold War (WTO 1995; World Bank 2000: 1). As of March 2009, 184 RTAs have been notified to the WTO and are in force. Currently, there are also several RTAs soon to come into force. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) is one among them. Negotiations for this FTA have already been completed and is expected to be signed very soon if all goes well. This is one FTA that could have an important impact on the Northeast states of India in the face of the increasingly closer economic ties and relations between India and its eastern neighbours.
This paper is an attempt to explore trade, examine infrastructural facilities and identify potentials and examine problems for trade-led development for ASEAN[1] and the Northeast states of India in the face of an increasingly globalised world and in the context of the current AIFTA. The paper looks into the beginning of the improved relations between India and ASEAN and investigates how this improved relation affects the Northeast states. It then focuses on the resources and potentials of the Northeast and examines the infrastructure and the problems and constraints for trade-led development in this region. It argues that while the Northeast is truly a storehouse of innumerable wealth with huge potentials to become the centre of trade between India and ASEAN, the poor physical infrastructure, uneven growth rate, absence of proper transport and communications and policies brought about by security concerns keeps this region behind other regions of India. It also argues that the many proposals, projects, agreements and plans should be implemented immediately if this region is to become the gateway to Southeast Asia.
India and ASEAN: a historical perspective
When India initiated its Look East Policy in 1991, it marked a strategic shift in its foreign policy and perceptions towards its eastern neighbours. ASEAN’s strategic importance in the larger Asia-Pacific region and the potentials it has in becoming India’s major partner in trade and investment also added an impetus to India to develop closer ties with it. In addition, considering that the proposed South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is unlikely to produce any solid outcome, this policy shift and agreement on the part of India is as strategic as it is important. The Indian Prime Mister Manmohan Singh commented thus, “This was not merely an external economic policy; it was also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy. Most of all it was about reaching out to our civilisational neighbours in the region.”[2]
In continuance of India’s Look East Policy, the process of interregional cooperation was institutionalised with India becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992; a full dialogue partner in 1995 and member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996. India became a summit-level partner of ASEAN in 2002 and concluded the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity in 2004. India also became engaged in regional initiatives such as the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and the Bangladesh India Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand – Economic Cooperation which has become the awkwardly named Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) with the admission of Nepal and Bhutan. India has now become a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS) since December 2005.
At the first India-ASEAN Summit held at Phnom Penh on November 5, 2001, India called for an India-ASEAN FTA within a 10-year time frame. In this context, the second India-ASEAN Summit held at Bali on October 8, 2003 was a significant landmark in India-ASEAN relations. This Summit saw the signing of the Framework Agreement for Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between India and ASEAN. This agreement envisaged the establishment of an FTA within a period of ten years. In March 2004, an ASEAN-India Trade Negotiations Committee (AI-TNC) was established to negotiate the implementation of the provisions of the Framework Agreement. India has, since then, entered into numerous agreements with ASEAN. At the sixth India-ASEAN Summit held at Singapore on November 2007, India proposed to increase its bilateral trade with ASEAN to the tune of US$ 50 billion by the year 2010.
In addition to these agreements with ASEAN, India has made consistent efforts to develop bilateral ties with ASEAN members. With Thailand, India has 61 years of diplomatic relations. India also has a Free Trade Agreement with Thailand that was signed in 2004. The framework agreement on bilateral FTA of 2003 was the basis of this FTA with Thailand. Trade between the two increased from a mere US$ 606 million to US$ 3.14 billion in 2006-2007.
With the CLV countries (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam), India entered into a number of bilateral agreements for cooperation in the fields of trade, science and technology , agriculture, defence, visa exemption, tourism, IT and culture. India has major projects in the fields of education, entrepreneurship development and IT in these three countries. In 2004, India extended a credit line of US$ 27 million to Vietnam.
Malaysia is a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for India, particularly in the areas of LPG, power plants and highway constructions. Trade between the two rose from US$ 2.2 billion in 2002-2003 to US$ 6.6 billion in 2006-2007. Indian public sector undertakings such as BHEL and IRCON have also undertaken and completed a number of projects in Malaysia. Presently, after the India-ASEAN FTA negotiations, it is reported that about 150 Indian engineering firms are eying to diversify their export base in ASEAN markets and are planning to make Malaysia the regional hub to penetrate the region.[3] Many of these companies are exploring the possibilities of joint ventures, technology transfers and investment opportunities.
It was mainly because of the insistence of Indonesia that India became a part of the East Asia Summit in 2005. Relations between the two had been very good for many years. Bilateral trade between the two increased by 44 per cent from 2005-2006 to 2006-2007.
India has a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Singapore since 2005. This agreement included bilateral investment promotion treaty, double taxation avoidance agreement, an air services agreement and an FTA. Singapore, along with Indonesia had been an important factor for India’s inclusion into the East Asian Summit. In addition, it was Singapore’s role that paved the way for India’s association with the ARF. Singapore is the biggest source of FDI for India among ASEAN countries. During the period 2000 to 2008, the cumulative FDI of Singapore into India was worth a whooping US$ 4.35 billion. Concurrently, over two thousand Indian companies were based in Singapore.
India also has plans for a free trade area with Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia by 2011 and with the remaining ASEAN countries by 2016. Since 1995, India had actively engaged Myanmar in trade. It has signed several agreements and MOUs including the Tripartite Maritime Agreement with Myanmar and Thailand, Border Trade Agreement and for cooperation between civilian authorities between India and Myanmar. Since 2000, a number of high level visits have taken place. During these visits, several agreements and MOUs have been signed in areas ranging from hydroelectric projects on the Chindwin River and IT cooperation to cultural exchange programmes. In the year 2003 alone, seven Agreements/MOUs were signed to promote trade and communication facilities. By 2006-2007, bilateral trade between India and Myanmar reached US$ 650 million as compared to US$ 341.40 million in 2004-2005.
The deepening of relationship between India and ASEAN is reflected in the buoyancy of trade figures between the two. During April-September 2007-2008, trade grew from US$ 15.06 billion to US$ 17.02 billion, that is, trade grew by 13 per cent. India’s Foreign Trade with ASEAN, according to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), is also on the rise. During the period 2005-2006 to 2006-2007, India’s exports to ASEAN registered a growth rate of 20.67 per cent. Similarly, India’s imports from ASEAN during the same period registered a growth rate of 66 per cent. India-ASEAN trade stood at US$ 38.37 billion in 2007-2008 and is projected to reach US$ 48 billion during 2008-2009.[4] Kamal Nath, the Indian Commerce minister has stated that India-ASEAN trade has reached the projected US$ 40 billion and that both are confident that the US$ 50 billion target will be achieved before the deadline of 2010.[5]
The Northeast, India’s Look East Policy and India-ASEAN FTA
One early outcome of the Look East policy was the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement signed in 1994. According to this agreement, border trade between the two is to be conducted through Moreh in India and Tamu in Myanmar; Champhai in India and Rhi in Myanmar and other places that may be notified by mutual agreement. Several Indian companies are also engaged in oil and gas exploration in Myanmar.
In 2001, India upgraded the 160 km long Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo highway. Plans for a 1400 km long trans-Asian highway that will connect India, Myanmar and Thailand is now being finalised. A railway link that will extend up to Imphal in Manipur in the first phase and up to Myanmar in the second phase is also being planned. Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar has also been expanding at a significant rate since 2001. India has extended a number of general and project-specific credit lines in the last few years. Some major projects between the two, besides the ones already mentioned include the Rhi-Tiddim and Rhi-Falam Roads in Myanmar, the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project and the Tamanthi Hydro Electric Power Project.
In 2006, the Minister of Defence MM Palam Raju had announced that India will upgrade the 7,603 Km of roads by the year 2013 to increase connectivity and to promote trade with China and Myanmar.[6]
The Kaladan Multimodal Transit-cum-Transport project agreement was signed in April 2008. Jairam Ramesh, the Minister of State for Commerce said that the Rs. 548 Crore project will help increase connectivity between the two countries. Physical work for this project is expected to begin by the end of 2009. This project will link Kolkata and Sittwe, Kaleutwa in Myanmar by road and would go through Mizoram in India. It envisages the development of a 225 km waterway on the Kaladan River and the construction of ports along the way. The minister said that north eastern India will be able to boost its border trade with Myanmar. Upgradation of ports, waterway and road from Kaleutwa to the Indo-Myanmar border is expected to be completed by 2011-2012. It is also proposed to construct a two-lane highway of 117 kilometres near Lawngtlai in Mizoram to the Myanmar border. The government, he added, will also consider opening up of trading points in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. At present, there is only one trading point at Moreh in Manipur. This project will also help India to effectively integrate with the ASEAN region through Myanmar.[7] Plans to allow free movement of Myanmarese citizens up to Moreh town in Manipur is also afoot. The Manipur Government has also submitted a Rs. 200 Crore project proposal to the Central Government to develop infrastructure at Moreh.
In 2006, a proposal for a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay was considered and accepted by the Indian Government. But till now, no such service has been undertaken. But during the September 2008 visit of a 17-member trade delegation from Myanmar at Imphal, the Myanmar trade delegation expressed their desire to implement the proposed Imphal-Mandalay bus service definitely. This visit was a reciprocal visit after a trade delegation from Manipur visited Mandalay during the month of April 2008. After holding a series of meetings, both the sides agreed to put pressure on their respective governments to improve the existing border trade between India and Myanmar. The Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Aloke Sen said recently that this bus service proposal should be examined further.[8]
Earlier in April 2008, after the visit of a strong Myanmar official and business delegation to India, both the two countries had agreed to increase border trade that is restricted to only 22 items, all being agricultural products. There are now plans to free more items including life saving drugs, fertilizers, garments, x-ray papers and motor parts. Very recently, tradable items have been increased from the earlier 22 items to 40 items.
The latest agreement signed between India and Myanmar is the four-point economic cooperation agreement signed in June 2008. This agreement was signed by the Indian Minister for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh and the Myanmar Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha. First, the Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA) was signed to encourage investment between the two countries. Second, a credit line agreement between the Exim Bank of India and the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank was signed to finance three 290 kv transmission lines in Myanmar. This US$ 64 million project will be executed by the Power Grid Corporation of India. Third, a credit line agreement for US$ 20 million between the Exim Bank of India and the Myanmar Trade Bank was signed to finance the establishment of an aluminium conductor steel reinforced wire manufacturing facility. This facility will be used for the expansion of power distribution network in Myanmar. Fourth, the United Bank of India (UBI) and the Myanmar Economic Bank signed an agreement to encourage border trade through Moreh. There are also plans to expand trade centres to include Arangkhu and Lungwa in Nagaland, Zokhawthar in Mizoram, Pangsan Pass in Arunachal Pradesh and Behiang, Skip and Tusom in Manipur.[9]
The announcement for the ASEAN-India FTA came after the conclusion of the 6^th ASEAN AEM – India Consultations held at Singapore on 28 August 2008. Expectations from the India-ASEAN FTA are high. The Joint Media Statement of the Sixth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM)-India Consultations stated that “the AIFTA could be a major avenue in harnessing the region’s vast economic potentials towards sustained progress and improved welfare not only for ASEAN and India but for the greater East Asian region as well.” [10]
This agreement, it is expected, will bring a free trade regime to about two billion people from 11 countries with a combined GDP of $2,381 billion as of 2007. The agreement covering billions of dollars in trade in goods but not in services was supposed to have been concluded in 2007 but talks were bogged down because of differences over products that India wanted excluded from tariff cuts. India had submitted a list of 1,414 products but ASEAN’s target was only 400. In the end, the agreement permits India to have 489 products in the ‘exclusion list’ and 606 sensitive goods that will come under partial duty reductions.
This agreement is to be viewed against the backdrop of the long drawn-out Doha round of multilateral talks. As the Doha talks continue to drag on, this agreement between India and ASEAN can be seen as a natural course of action for countries refusing to entangle themselves in the protracted Doha round of talks. This agreement, along with the comprehensive FTA between ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand (AANZ FTA), became the first major trade agreement in the post-Doha era of trade policy negotiations.
The India-ASEAN FTA is also the result of recent changes in ASEAN’s policy towards its immediate neighbours and other important trading partners all over the world. In recent years, ASEAN has been involved with its major trading partners in concluding FTAs. In 1999, the ASEAN+3[11] was formed for the establishment of a common market and a currency. China was the first to conclude an FTA with ASEAN followed by Japan and South Korea. The present FTA between India and ASEAN, and the AANZ FTA completes this trend. ASEAN will now be able to strike a fine balance in trade among its immediate neighbours.
For India, this agreement will be a major milestone in its Look East Policy that began after the collapse of the erstwhile Soviet Union. The current agreement will take India far beyond its existing trade agreements with Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore.
It is in these contexts that India’s Northeast came to be seen in a new light. Myanmar, now being a member of ASEAN and having shared a 1643 km long border with India, is now becoming the major link between India and ASEAN countries. The Northeast states of India have now also been seen as the ‘gateway’ to the ASEAN countries.
The Northeast States: an emerging centre for trade?
The north eastern part of India has been an area of very low economic importance for the major part of history. But changes in international relations, the search for economic expansion and free trade have suddenly exposed this neglected and isolated region to the globalised world. This area is now being called the ‘gateway’, ‘arrowhead’ and ‘centre’ of trade for India with the emerging ASEAN countries. And especially in view of the above developments, expectations from recent agreements and policies regarding the development of this region are high. It can be argued that all this began with the adoption of the Look East Policy by India. Rajiv Sikri, the Secretary East of the Ministry of External Affairs remarked that the Look East Policy “envisages the Northeast region not as the periphery of India, but as the centre of a thriving and integrated economic space linking two dynamic regions with a network of highways, railways, pipelines, transmission lines crisscrossing the region.”[12]
Indeed, the region comprising of the eight states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim is a storehouse of rich natural resources. This region is home to over 40 million people and is a potential gateway to Southeast Asia. The Minister of External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee has also stated, “The Northeast region of India which comprises of eight states is a unique region. Accounting for roughly 8 per cent of India’s total land mass and 4 per cent of India’s population, the region is rich in both human (high literacy rate of over 65 per cent) and natural resources and has the true potential of becoming the gateway of India to ASEAN. Given the tremendous availability of natural resources and many incentives specially designed for the North East Region, it is today poised as a major growth area waiting for investment. The idea of rail and road connectivity is under examination to help increase our exchanges with ASEAN countries.”[13]
The Northeast has about 38 per cent of hydroelectric potential of India and has millions of tonnes of coal and oil reserves. Besides, it also has huge potentials for the development of paper industry, horticulture, floriculture, agriculture, food processing, information technology, paper industry, tourism, minerals and gas. A number of items that could be used for speedy growth in exports to its neighbouring countries and that have huge potentials include pineapple, passion fruit, spices, ginger, bamboo products, orange, flowers, handicrafts, tea, oil and natural gas. The region also has India’s largest perennial water transportation – the Brahmaputra River. The valley around the Brahmaputra River is fertile having huge potentials for developing and transporting agricultural products in a mass scale.
Identifying potentialities
The areas of cooperation between India and its eastern neighbours cover wide ranging areas including trade and investment, tourism, human resources development, transport and infrastructure, small and medium scale enterprise, science and technology and people-to-people contacts in terms of sectors. In trade in goods, India’s exports to ASEAN include oil, meals, gems and jewellery, meat and meat preparations, cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, engineering goods, transport equipment, machinery and instruments, electronic goods, marine products, fruits and vegetables, rice, drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals etc. while its imports from ASEAN include artificial resins, plastic materials, natural rubber, wood and wood products, electronic goods, non-ferrous metals, metaliferous ores and metal scrap, organic chemicals, edible oils, coal, fertilisers etc. ASEAN countries are also undertaking Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India, mostly in telecommunications, fuels, hotel and tourism services, heavy industry, chemicals, fertilisers, trading, textiles, paper and paper pulp and food processing.
In terms of hydroelectric energy, this region has a very big potential. It has almost 40 per cent of India’s total hydroelectric potential out of which less than 2 per cent has been harnessed. This potential is estimated to be about 58971 MW.[14] There are several hundred hydroelectric projects in the Northeast. Besides hydroelectricity, the region also has huge natural gas, coal and oil reserves. Such potential and reserves, if planned and harnessed properly and used in the proper ways could alleviate the present condition of the people of this region. It could also be an important leverage for the region in trade with its neighbours.
The economy of the Northeast is mainly agrarian and mostly poor. But this region offers big scope for the production of a wide variety of crops because of the diverse topography, altitude and climatic conditions. Such products, if developed properly, could be made good use of for mass production and for trade. Mushroom, ginger, pineapple, passion fruit, rubber, spices, orchids, chilli pepper, bamboo products, exotic plants, aromatic herbs, medicinal plants and other rare forest products of Northeast India could constitute the bulk of trade. For the state of Mizoram, ginger, which has constituted the bulk of its exports could be put under better scientific management not only for international exports, but also for exports to other states of India. The high quality pineapples of Cachar must also come under proper and scientific management so that it can bring about employment to the many pineapple farmers of this particular region.

STATE-WISE PRODUCTION OF TEA
*States*	*2000*	*2001*	*2002*	*2003*	*2004*	*2005*	*2006*	*2007*
Assam	449219	453587	433327	434759	435649	487487	502041	479925
Tripura	6431	6506	6632	8577	7168	7515	7128	-
Manipur	96	101	100	119	110	108	110	-
Sikkim	105	110	81	107	150	157	167	13329
Arunachal Pradesh	993	1047	950	1745	2219	2624	3748	-
Nagaland	43	75	206	195	190	190	191	-
Meghalaya	140	41	35	81	99	99	139	-
Mizoram	39	41	45	78	72	73	75	-
All India	846922	853923	838474	878129	892965	945974	981805	944678
Source: Tea Board, Guwahati

One important Northeast product that could have deep impact on the economy and trade is tea. Tea, along with coffee is widely cultivated in the Northeast. Although tea is mostly grown in Assam and Tripura, in recent years, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur have also started producing tea. In recent years, the tea industry has seen remarkable expansion. In fact, about 77 per cent of Indian tea is contributed by the eight states of Northeast India.[15] Assam itself accounts for nearly 53 per cent of the all India production.[16] The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India has planned to cover an area of about 1 lakh ha in this region for re-plantation/rejuvenation under the Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) over the next 15 years with an estimated investment of 2500 crores and over 8000 ha for new plantation within the 11^th Plan period with an outlay of 42 crores which will be confined only to the hilly areas.[17] The government is also engaged to develop coffee production in the Northeast with an outlay of about 20 crores within the 11^th Plan period. The Coffee Board has also established five coffee demonstration farms at Haflong (Assam), Kolasib (Mizoram), Deomali (Arunachal Pradesh), Kiruphema (Nagaland) and Agartala (Tripura). Tea plantations have begun in many parts of the Northeast states; and if the plans are to be pursued wholeheartedly, it would greatly help in making this region a major tea exporter of not only Asia, but also of the world.
An important thrust area for development and trade in the Northeast has been the tourism sector. The Government of India and the Ministry of the Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) have identified tourism as an important trade link between Northeast India and Southeast Asia. At the recently concluded Northeast India Business and Trade Opportunities Summit held at Ho Chi Minh City, Jarnail Singh, the DoNER Secretary stated, “Tourism is the most effective way to increase the still negligible trade between India’s northeastern region and Vietnam.”[18] The rich natural beauty, exotic flora and fauna and serenity of the region are expected to invite more tourists if the relations between India and its eastern neighbours continue to improve. The government has also taken several steps to improve tourist facilities in the Northeast. During the Ninth Five Year Plan, some of the thrust areas in this sector included – development of infrastructure, trekking, winter sports, wildlife and beach resorts; exploration of new source markets in regions and countries having cultural affinity; environmental protection and cultural preservation of natural heritage projects; marketing plan in key markets; provision of inexpensive accommodation in different tourist centres; improvement in service efficiency in public sector corporations; easy facilitation of procedures at airports; human resource development; facilitation private sector participation in development of infrastructure. This is one sector where the Northeast has immense potential for.

Tourists to Northeast India
States	Tourist Spots	Tourist
States	Tourist Spots	Indian	Foreigners	Total
Arunachal Pradesh	N.A.	3025	292	3317
Assam (2006-07)	N.A.	3479870	13657	3493527
Manipur	41	93331	248	93679
Meghalaya (2005)	64	375911	5099	381010
Mizoram	4	45999	313	46312
Nagaland	N.A.	15030	1002	16032
Sikkim	N.A.	292486	18026	310512
Tripura (2006-07)	31	229621	3177	232798
Source: Arunachal Pradesh at a Glance 2006, Statistical Handbook of Assam 2007, Manipur 2006, Meghalaya 2007, Mizoram 2007, Nagaland 2006, Sikkim 2006, Tripura 2007

But if we look at the table, it can be seen that the flow of tourists in this region is quite limited so far. There are several issues such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime that has to be sorted out first. To navigate between those who held that the ILP protects the indigenous people and those who state that it badly affects trade and tourism in the Northeast becomes another hurdle to be overcome as indicated by the recent furore caused by the ruling of the Guwahati High Court.[19]
The problems
The potentials the Northeast offers are huge. But most of this potential remains untapped because of the very poor physical infrastructures of the region. Except perhaps Assam, all other Northeast states do not have necessary industrial infrastructures. Most products remain localised. The use of machinery and other modern tools remain confined to very few areas of the Northeast. The growth of industries is also uneven even between the states. It is therefore imperative to establish small to medium sized industries in the first phase to begin harnessing this potential in as much viable centres as possible. The Indian government has also taken several steps towards this direction, but most of these steps remain in paper.
For a very long time, the northeast states have not seen much improvement in the condition of the roads and other transport networks. This poor transport infrastructure is a big problem for trade in this region. The rail network is limited because of the topography. For some time now, plans have been made to upgrade, build and rebuild roads all over the Northeast but it can be seen that the plans have not been implemented on a war footing. Remote areas remain remote and inaccessible villages remain inaccessible. The plans to connect India, Myanmar and Thailand (trans-Asia highway), the planned railway link between India and Myanmar, the Rhi-Tiddim and Rhi-Falam roads, the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project and the proposed bus service are still in their infancy at this stage. 1,310 Km of the plan announced by the Defence Minister in 2006 is supposed to have been completed by this year (2009). No one knows where the upgraded 1,310 Km road runs through now. Therefore, the upgradation of transport facilities and the development of roads, rail, river and air transport has become the need of the hour in the face of recent developments.
If we examine the markets, trade items and products between India and ASEAN, it can be seen that many of the trade items are products from mainland India and not from the Northeast. This was because of the low productivity level in the region. It therefore becomes quite difficult to identify the potential Northeast products for export into ASEAN as the region produces too little tradable items presently. Even for those items that can be traded, the volume is too small to be traded internationally. As the region remains underdeveloped in all sectors, the potentials that it has becomes limited once again. A vicious cycle of underdevelopment, low productivity levels and isolation thus occurs here.
A problem that most developing countries face in regional trade is that they produce the same primary goods limiting the scope of any trade-led developments. In our case, many of the products which we find in the Northeast, notwithstanding its small volume, are also produced in ASEAN countries. For example, tea is also produced in ASEAN countries especially in Vietnam and Indonesia. In fact, Vietnam produces tea, coffee, rubber and fish and is one of the largest producers in the world. As for rice, Thailand is the second largest exporter of rice in the world with Vietnam coming second. Indonesia is also a major producer of coffee. The direction of trade for tea plantations in Assam and other states of the Northeast becomes quite difficult to navigate.
One glaring problem for trade in this region is topographical. The mountain ranges, thick jungles and winding river networks make this place hard to access and hard to develop to make it a proper linkage and centre. This is worsened by the poor surface and air transport system. The geographical feature of this region also hampers the development of the transport system. But the blame cannot and should not be laid on this alone.
Even though it can be seen that there have been changes in the policy of the government towards the Northeast during the past few years, for a very long time the policy of the government towards the Northeast was shaped by its security concerns. This remains a serious inhibitor to investment from major companies or neighbours. Indeed, the porous borders and the many insurgent groups in Northeast India are to be matters of concern for the security establishment. And in spite of India’s improving relations with Myanmar, the growing power of the military junta in this country could also remain a hurdle for India and the ASEAN countries in their pursuit of freer border trade. This could in turn also affect the Northeast states. If this becomes a hurdle, then India would have to conduct its businesses through the sea route. The future of the Northeast states will then remain unsure once again. An important point to note is that although trade performance has improved with India’s eastern neighbours over the years till now, many of these exchanges had been done without the Northeast states playing important roles. Most of the volume of trade has so far been conducted through the sea routes bypassing the Northeast states. In fact, only Moreh trade centre in Manipur is functioning out of the several trade centres proposed and planned. But then, looking at everything from the security point of view is also bound to constrain economic development opportunities. A fine balance between security, economics and politics should be maintained so that the roots of all the problems in the Northeast can be done away with.
The weakness of the forces of production, poor infrastructural facilities and technology in addition to the underdeveloped transport and communication routes have also hampered productivity and trade within the region. While labour is quite plentiful, there is also the lack of skilled labour. Therefore, while trade between India and ASEAN has remained buoyant for some years now, its impact has not been felt in the Northeast so far. The infrastructural facilities, transport and communication and trade centres have not been developed enough to let the Northeast states become the centre of trade between them. Among the notified and approved trade centres in the Northeast, till now, only Moreh trade centre in Manipur is functioning while at the trade centre of Zokhawthar in Mizoram, very informal trade has started. Even here, trade remains insignificant. Steps have to be taken to renovate and build new buildings and other structures in this trade centre. Recently, tradable items between India and Myanmar at Moreh had been increased to 40 items from the previous 22 items. But the bilateral trade between India and Myanmar do not extend much beyond granting formal sanctions to the already existing exchanges between the local people. In effect, border trade remains insignificant and did not contribute much towards economic growth for neither country. The trade centre at Zokhawthar in Mizoram is still not regulated well enough as some local reports have mentioned problems that have arisen due to the high transport costs of goods brought from this centre to the state capital. The transportations of the goods are allegedly undertaken by the Zokhawthar Welfare Committee and the Champhai Transport Union.[20] The Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Alok Sen was quoted to having said, “it is hard to say if Mizoram state and India will profit from border trade, because the activity is still very much informal.”[21]
Concluding remarks
It is understood that the Northeast states have huge potentials for growth, development and for trade. It is also known that these states are an important link, a ‘gateway’ to Southeast Asia. It is again known that the physical infrastructures are so poor and that this region cannot properly become the centre trade for India with its eastern neighbours. But what has been done to solve all these? We have seen the many plans and proposals for development and some of the works that have been done. These, certainly, are still not enough; and we all know this first hand.
For trade and commerce to flourish, the entire network of transport and communication, industries and agriculture throughout the Northeast also needs to be revamped and developed. If the northeast is to benefit from any improved trade relations or any present or future FTAs, the numerous plans and proposals that has been put forth and are in paper only must be implemented and brought to fruition first. The very few roles that the northeast states are playing right now should also be promoted to a more central role. In order to undertake any development projects for trade in Northeast India, it is imperative that the civil society and the government work hand in hand.
In a nutshell, Northeast India, a storehouse of great natural resources but very backward economically, needs to be built up and readied if it is really going to be the ‘gateway’, ‘arrowhead’ or ‘centre’ of trade between India and East Asia. Unless the region is developed to catch up with the rest of the country in its growth rate and development, it will be hard to achieve what the people aspired for – peace, security, prosperity and all round development. To make this possible, substantial investment in infrastructure, construction of roads, bridges, communication networks, harnessing of the region’s vast natural resources and other physical infrastructures that will facilitate trade and economic progress needs to be developed. The prism of security through which policy makers have been looking at the Northeast states also need to be changed to one that mirrors a more optimistic side of this beautiful region – the Northeast.
The Indian government also concedes that the Northeast has a long way to go to achieve the national growth rate of nearly 9 per cent. The growth rate of Northeast is only 4 per cent. Increasing the growth rate and economy of this region will be an important step because herein lies many solutions to some pressing political and security problems.
REFERENCES
WTO (1995), Regionalism and the World Trading Systems, Geneva: WTO.
World Bank (2000), Trade Blocks, Oxford: OUP.

[1] ASEAN was formed in 1967. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines constituted the five original members. Brunei became a full member in 1984; Vietnam in 1995; Laos and Myanmar in 1997; and Cambodia in 1999. [2] Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address at the 16th Asian Corporate Conference driving global business: India’s new priorities, Asia’s new realities. URL: http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/press_release/2006/Mar/35.asp
[3] http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=351756
[4] India’s trade statistics and other commercial information can be had from the DGCIS website at http://dgciskol.nic.in
[5] http://www.aseanaffairs.com/india_s_engagement_with_asean
[6] http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2682
[7] http://www.financialexpress.com/news/India-Myanmar-expects-Kaladan-project-to-increase-border-trade/292285/
[8] http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090411/jsp/northeast/story_10804322.jsp
[9] See http://commerce.nic.in/PressRelease/pressrelease_detail.asp?id=2280
[10] http://www.aseansec.org/21895.htm
[11] ASEAN+3 include ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea.
[12] http://telegraphindia.com/1050412/asp/opinion/story_4590622.asp also see http://meaindia.nic.in/speech/2005/05/31ss02.htm
[13] http://www.aseanaffairs.com/india_s_engagement_with_asean
[14] http://neepco.gov.in/neepco6.html
[15] http://databank.nedfi.com/content/tea-2
[16] http://mdoner.gov.in/index2.asp?sid=129
[17] http://commerce.nic.in/publications/anualreport_chapter14.asp
[18] http://ne.icrindia.org/2009/02/18/tourism-identified-as-trade-link-between-ne-india-and-se-asia/
[19] See http://kaladan.com/390/inner-line-permit-ilp-issue-causes-furore-in-northeast/
[20] http://aizawl.org/home/5-mizoram-news/1691-zokhawthar-border-trade-enfiah-dawn
[21] http://mizzima.com/news/regional/1956-indian-ambassador-to-burma-discusses-border-trade-with-mizoram.html

Teaching Hindi, Piyongtemjen Jamir brought Nagas into Indian fold

2010-05-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

Mumbai: In a state where creole language is the mode of communication among people, Piyongtemjen Jamir has spent more than 30 years spreading the Rashtrabhasha — Hindi. And he claims that he has played an important role in Nagaland, his home state which has seen the dark shadow of separatism since
Independence, in bringing its people to the national mainstream.

Jamir, 75, was conferred the ONE (Our North-East) India Award in Mumbai recently by My Home India, an NGO, for his excellent work in promoting nationalism in Nagaland.

Jamir’s inspiration behind learning and spreading of Hindi is Mahatma Gandhi. “Gandhiji would say that service to Hindi is service to the nation,” Jamir told DNA.

Jamir lives in the Podumpukhuri area of Dimapur district in Nagaland. His initiative to teach Hindi was not welcomed in the state initially. Braving all odds, he started a Hindi institute in Dimapur in 1980. Although few came to attend his classes at its inception, his institute saw the number bulging year after year. For the present session, he has 150 students.

“I started with my family members and later took Hindi to 18 tribes of Nagaland. I motivated them to learn the language,” said a proud Jamir.

Jamir took lessons inHindi for five years at the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtria Hindi Vishwavidyalya in Wardha. He has a piece of advice for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray: “Everybody should know his mother tongue and should be proud of it. But he must know Hindi too because it is the main language of communication in the country. If everyone knows Hindi, India will remain united.”

Today, according to the teacher, almost everyone in Nagaland knows working Hindi. “The people have started watching Hindi movies too. Now they say that they should have learnt Hindi early. The change is taking place slowly. People are coming back to the national mainstream,” he said.

Assam urges Meghalaya to resolve boundary issues

2010-05-20T23:07:00.001-07:00

The government is Assam has expressed its desire to solve boundary issues with its neighboring state, Meghalaya. The two states have differences on some areas including the region of Lampi.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, a spokesperson for the Assam government has informed the media that his government has sent a letter to the Meghalaya government asking it to provide the map along with its claim in writing. Assam also appears to be ready on a give and take type solution to the issue.
Mr. Sarma expressed that he met the former revenue minister of Meghalaya last year and proposed to solve the problem on Lampi and other points of border dispute. He continued that there are about 16 points of differences between the states other than Lampi and the problem can be solved through a give and take approach. The issue is said is now focused on Lampi.
He further said that the two states are part of one country and thus should try to resolve the issues in an amicable manner.
“The Meghalaya government has become too much concerned about public and media reaction if it goes for the give-and-take policy. The government feels that it would surrender to Assam if an amicable solution is adopted. I think this is a wrong move,” he added.
Meghalaya government responded by saying that it also wants to resolve the problems through a formula which is acceptable to both the states. Assam has asked Meghalaya to provide documents with names of villages, communities in the 12 areas of differences on the boundary.
Prestone Tynsong, a minister in the United Alliance in Meghalaya along with Sarma led the meeting of the special committee on Meghalaya-Assam boundary dispute and prepared mechanisms to resolve the issue.
Tynsong informed that the proceedings of the meeting were sent to Sarma for approval and was return with a delay of two months on the other hand there was also a delay in sending the maps and other documents on the part of Meghalaya due to the change in government.

Social media: where to begin

2010-05-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

So you’ve heard the hype over and over again, you’ve been laughed at for not taking the plunge sooner, and you’ve finally signed your business up to several social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Now what? You’re wrong if you think merely joining in will lead your company to success. You need to work at it. And you can’t start doing that unless you really ‘get’ the point of social media. Cue Chris Brogan and his extremely useful (and noob-friendly) introductory guide to the space. In it, he explains topics like:

How to talk about social media
Homebases, outposts, and a formula

Get the goods at Open Forum.

8 websites you need to stop building

2010-05-13T10:12:00.001-07:00

If one more over-caffeinated start-up “CEO” claims to have created the new Facebook, a smack down might be in order. The Oatmeal has tapped into our collective annoyance with the same old, same old and put together a list of the eight websites you need to stop building.

Full list at the delightfully brilliant The Oatmeal.

How to build your blog an online community

2010-05-12T21:43:00.001-07:00

When it comes to blogging, the ‘build it and they will come’ mantra doesn’t really apply. What you want to do, is build not just an audience, but an online community that participates in a two-way conversation with yourself and other community members. There are twelve ways to do that. See three below:

Enable others to promote your work.
Guest posts/videos/articles.
Producing consistent quality content.

See all twelve at The Rise to the Top.

Rs 2,500 crore Arunachal plan outlay approved

2010-05-12T09:18:00.002-07:00

ITANAGAR, May 11 – The Planning Commission has approved the annual plan outlay of Rs 2,500 crore for this hilly Northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh for the financial year 2010-11.

The annual plan size was finalised at a meeting held between the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Arunachal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in New Delhi yesterday. Union Minister of State for Planning V Narayanasamy and other members of the Planning Commission were present at the meeting.

It was given to understand that the plan allocation was fixed as projected by the State Government. In this year’s plan allocation, there is an increase of almost 25 per cent over the last year’s Rs 2,016 crore.

Amongst other components of Central grants, Special Plan Assistance (SPA) of Rs 1,100 crore has been approved for the State. This will go a considerable way in bridging the gaps in infrastructure in the State. The State Government has identified connectivity (including road sector), infrastructure, education, tourism, hydropower and transmission lines, e-governance, monitoring and capacity building as thrust areas for 2010-11.

The Planning Commission Deputy Chairman was all praise for the State and its performance in all developmental sectors during the last fiscal. He reportedly emphasised on the need for creation of infrastructure which he said was the pre-condition for development.

Dr Ahluwalia also praised the Chief Minister for the several revolutionary steps taken by his government for improving service delivery system in the State.

Khandu reciprocated the gesture towards the Plan panel and the Centre as well for their tremendous support to the State. He said that the sincere efforts of the State Government in timely execution of works maintaining high standards of quality has been rewarded by the Planning Commission.

Solar rays lighten lives & hopes in Arunachal

2010-05-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

26198 people in 523 hamlets benefit from project along Sino-Indian, Indo-Myanmar border

ATONU CHOUDHURRI

A villager in Kurung Kumey district holds a CFL bulb

Itanagar, May 11: Decades of darkness has given way to light, illuminating the hopes and homes of thousands living in the remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh along the Sino-Indian and Indo-Myanmar border.

“Our long wait for electricity is over. It is like a dream come true. It is a journey from darkness to light for us as our homes have finally been illuminated,” Sherab Choedon, a villager of Monigong in West Siang district, said.

The realisation of the dream has been made possible by a Rs 9-crore project, which was funded by the ministry of new and renewable energy under the scheme, Illumination of Remote Border Villages through Solar Under Prime Minister’s Package, and completed by the Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency recently. The project has helped light up the lives of villagers from Shepedung, the last hamlet on the Sino-Indian border in Tawang, to Namchik, a nondescript village in Changlang district along the Indo-Myanmar border with the help of solar-powered incandescent CFL bulbs. Choedon said each family of his village had got two fluorescent bulbs under the solar home system.

Project officer S.K. Sahi today said the project has illuminated 5,852 households benefiting 26,198 people of 523 hamlets spread across 10 districts. Of these, 364 villages, tucked away on the Sino-Indian and Indo-Myanmar border, stepped into the limelight this February. A total of 9,393 solar lamps have been distributed among the villagers till now since 2003. The peak capacity of each unit of solar lamp is 37W, Sahi added.

The yearlong project, which was completed in February this year, came at a time when people had all but lost hope of getting electricity.

“The project was a venture to illuminate the far-flung villages along the country’s borders with China and Myanmar. It was a challenging task for us to take electricity to the villages of Lumla in Tawang; Yakum and Chinagam in Anjaw district; and Namchik and Maithong in Changlang district. It took two to three days for our team to reach the villages, as those remote places do not have any motorable roads,” Sahi said.

“The onus was given to Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Authority after normal power grid failed to reach more than 350 villages along the border. The project was successful. The districts of Anjaw, Tawang, East Kameng, Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri, Dibang Valley, West Kameng, West Siang, Tirap and Changlang were covered under the project,” he added.

“Solar photovoltaic technology, adopted by the energy development authorities, involves direct conversion of sunlight into electricity. A number of solar photovoltaic cells joined together make a solar photovoltaic module necessary for harnessing energy,” Sahi explained.

Altogether 67 micro-hydel projects, having a capacity of 5KW to 300KW, will come up soon for electrification of remote border villages under the Prime Minister’s package.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state on January 31, 2009 had announced Rs 450 crore for electrification of the remote border villages in the state.

Wet and wonderful

2010-05-12T09:10:00.001-07:00

Piyashi Dutta

THE HINDU Scenic: Waterfalls at Cherrapunjee. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

Meghalaya is one of the most exciting places, rich in tribal culture and natural beauty.

Meghalaya is a rich reservoir of tribal culture, floral and faunal biodiversity, huge forest cover, a variety of orchids, home to over 250 species of butterflies, making it an exotic and captivating tourist destination.

Meghalaya (the abode of clouds) is a traveller's delight. The wide array of tourist destinations can be clubbed into three chief zones: the Khasi Hills, Jantia Hills and Garo Hills. The Khasi Hills are home to the wettest place on earth – Sohra, popularly known as Cherrapunjee. The Sohra area is on the outskirts of capital Shillong. Dotted by breathtaking waterfalls, deep gorges, swift flowing rivers and can be called the ultimate eco-friendly travellers' destination. It is also the traditional capital of a Hima-Khasi tribal chieftainship.

Unique

The living root bridge situated in Nongriat is one of its kind. It is called the Double-Decker Root Bridge or the Umshiang Double Decker Root-Bridge. Other attractions in the Khasi hills are Mawsynram, also considered one of the wettest places on earth. It has the Mawjymbuin with magnificent stalagmites and a dome-shaped rock called the Symper Rock. The Khasi hills are also abode to the second largest river island in Asia, the Nongkhum Island. A wooden bridge from the Weinia Falls leads to the island. The island is formed by the bifurcation of the Kynshi into the Phanliang and Namliang. The picturesque village of Mawlynnong situated in the Indo-Bangla border has the distinction of being the cleanest village in Asia. The villagers, mostly agriculturists, ensure that the virgin forest cover is kept unharmed. The sacred groves that have been preserved over centuries by means of traditional religious norms are a storehouse of incredible of medicinal plants, orchids and more. One of the most famous groves is the Mawphlang sacred forest, an ideal destination for nature lovers.

Smit is the heart of Khasi traditional culture, where the Nongkrem dance is performed every year in November.

The biggest artificial lake is the Umiam Lake, popularly known as Barapani, offers water sports. It is situated on the Shillong-Guwahati highway and is surrounded by pine trees and picture perfect blue skies. Jakrem is famous for its hot sulphur springs, which are believed to have curative medicinal value.

Shillong, the capital, also has plenty of tourist destinations. Known as the Gleneagle of the East, the Shillong Golf Course is one of the oldest and best natural golf courses of the world. Set amid the undulating valleys it has an 18-hole course.In the heart of the city is the Cathedral Catholic Church. The Lady Hydari Park and the Wards Lake are other tourist spots. Enchanting falls around the city include the Elephant falls, Sweet falls and Spread Eagle falls.

Architecture

Jaintia Hills is a land of hills and prosperous mineral deposits. It is home to the Nartiang village, famous for the summer palace of the Janitia kings. The Durga Temple of Nartiang has a tunnel that reaches the Myntang. The presence of the largest assortment of monoliths in one single area is found in the Nartiang markets: Menhris (upright stones) Moo Shyrang and Dolmens (flat stones in the horizontal position) locally known as Moo Kynthai.

A drive to the border town of Dawki is an exhilarating experience as the road passes through deep gorges and ravines. The Lumshnong hamlet is the dwelling of the Umlan, the largest and deepest in the sub-continent. It is also inter-connected with two other caves: Kot-Sati and Umskor caves.

A beautiful arch bridge connects across a stretch of paddy fields leading to the Tyrshi falls thundering down to the Pynthor below. Jarain Pitcher Plant Lake sits calmly amid gravelled footpaths, pitcher plant garden and green house interpretation centre.

Densely forested Garo Hills is one of the richest biodiversity spots. The Baghmara Reserve Forest is home to langurs, birds and elephants. Siju is famous for Dobakkol or the bat cave, one of the longest caves in the sub-continent and contains some premium river passages. The Siju bird sanctuary lies alongside the banks of the Simsang.Sasatgre village is home to orange plantations and falls within the periphery of the Nokrek gene-sanctuary-cum-biosphere reserve.

Meghalaya is the destination that vacationers will want to venture into. A marvellous blend of nature and adventure is forever ready to be served on a platter for those who dare to think beyond the horizon to the abode clouds. The hill state is a cosy getaway during these times of summer, in the arms of nature, in the land of rain soaring high in the skies this is Meghalaya for you, the consign to be.

Infiltrators held, fake currency seized along Bangladesh border

2010-05-12T09:09:00.001-07:00

Shillong: The BSF today apprehended two Bangladeshi infiltrators and seized fake currency in separate incidents along the border in Meghalaya.

Two Bangladeshi boatmen, Warshi Ali and Lal Miya, were apprehended near Bholaganj while they were trying to pick up limestones inside the Indian territory, BSF officials said.

A country made boat was also recovered from their possession.

In another incident, the border guards chased some unknown miscreants trying to enter India illegally from the Bangladeshi side in a motorcycle near Ghewmari, who escaped taking advantage of the dense forest, officials said.

The motorcycle and fake India currency of the face value of Rs10,000 were seized from the spot.

Assam Institute of Management

2010-05-11T22:41:00.001-07:00

Assam Institute of Management (AIM) came into being in 1988, when it was established by the Government of Assam. Located in Guwahati, the college is renowned for being the only fully autonomous institute in India sponsored by any state government in India. The institute has a vision to be a centre of excellence in the field of management and allied discipline, through upgrading teaching, training, research, consultancy and networking. AIM Gauhati is the only institute in north eastern part of the country that conducts IIM grade Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) course. The course is a two-year programme and it has been approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi.

Affiliated to: All India Council for Technical Education

Courses:

Post Graduate Diploma:

Business Management (PGDBM)

Eligibility:

Post Graduate Diploma:
To be eligible, the candidates should have possessed Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) from any recognized University. The candidates appearing in final year examination may also apply.

Admission Procedure:

Post Graduate Diploma:
The candidate is admitted through Common Entrance Test (held by the AIMS Test for Management Admissions – ATMA). The qualifying candidates are then called for group discussion and personal interview.

Entrance Test: ATMA Exam

Facilities:

Co curricular activities
Library
Research center
Events
Computer facilities

Contact Address:

Assam Institute of Management
7th Floor, East Point Tower
Bamunimaidam
Guwahati - 781 021
Assam
Phone: +91-361-2654813/ 2654815
Fax: +91-361-2654813
Email: aimghy@satyam.net.in
Website: http://www.aimguwahati.edu.in

Is VMWare becoming just an open source rollup?

2010-05-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

By Dana Blankenhorn

The gang at Springsource was on me this week, pushing a non-disclosure agreement about some great secret news.

The news, it turned out, was that their parent, VMWare, is buying Gemstone.

Gemstone has actually been around since 1982, when it was founded as Servio Logic. It was bought at the height of the dot-com bubble, but then divested a year later — one day you’re a diamond and then you’re a stone.

VMWare, which went public in 2007, has had virtual money burning a hole in its pocket for a year, having more than doubled in value since July. EMC, which owns the majority of VMWare, has been treading water during that time.

The analysts at New York-based 451 Group have been pushing VMWare to buy, buy, buy, even offering a helpful list of targets, which includes Terracotta, Chordiant, and Mulesource, among others. (Yes, Gemstone was on the list.)

It’s investor excitement over clouds and virtualization that is driving VMWare. There’s an attitude of use-it-or-lose it with all that stock value.

But at some point the music stops, and at some point you have to look at what you’ve bought and ask, is there a strategy there? Is there value there for companies that want to virtualize their systems, that want to build their own clouds?

Or were you just an open source rollup?

zdnet.com

Caught Between Terror & Xenophobia

2010-05-07T10:10:00.001-07:00

By: Patricia Mukhim

This article, like many others, is not a meticulous documentation of the historical facts of Manipur and the bitter aftermath of the romantic history of a lost kingdom. Several fact-finding teams have visited Manipur for various reasons and given their considered opinion about what ails the state. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission toured the entire region after a protest by naked Manipuri women who called for a repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. In November 2009, Dr KS Subramanian, IPS (retd), formerly of the Manipur-Tripura cadre and now a visiting professor at Jamia Milia University, also visited Manipur to assess the situation after a section of the media created a national uproar about the encounter killings where an alleged ex-militant was gunned down in broad daylight and a pregnant woman was killed in the crossfire. The problem with all such visits is that the report is handed over to the Union home ministry but there is hardly any action taken.

In a perennially troubled state like Manipur, there is very little space between one crisis and the next. Sit-in demonstrations are almost routine. A casual reading of the situation may tempt us to infer that there is not enough time for the state to implement carefully laid-down suggestions of various fact-finding missions. But the larger question is whether the state actually exists and whether its top heavy administration is actually delivering. The mere fact that there is an “elected” government in place and a huge bureaucracy does not necessarily imply that there is governance. Elections happen because militants sanction them. Without elections there would be no government and without a “popular” government the money taps to Manipur might run dry. If so, where will militants get their fuel from? So Manipur is a classic case of a state that has failed on all fronts. The empty shell of democracy that is put on display is merely to camouflage the rottenness.

Gangmumei Kamei, a retired professor of Manipur University, speaking at a recent seminar on peace, countered the notion of Manipur as a failing or failed state. Taking strong exception to the use of the term “failed state” to define Manipur, he pointed to the economic vibrancy in the state despite the protracted armed insurgency. But Kamei might like to read Bruce Sterling’s Failed State Index 2008. Sterling lists the different features of a failed state. Amongst the social features he lists (a) Mounting demographic pressures; (b) Massive movement of refugees or internally displaced persons creating complex humanitarian emergencies; (c) Legacy of vengeance-seeking group grievance or group paranoia; (d) Chronic and sustained human flight (note the huge numbers of Manipuris settled all over India).

Sterling’s economic indicators include (a) Uneven economic development along group lines; (b) Sharp or severe economic decline. The political indicators are more telling. They include (a) Criminalisation and/or delegitimisation of the state; (b) Progressive deterioration of public services; (c) Suspension or arbitrary application of the rule of law and widespread violation of human rights; (d) Security apparatus operates as a “state within a state”; (e) Rise of factionalised elites; (f) Requiring intervention of other states or external political actors.

Nearly 99 per cent of Sterling’s analytical features are visible in Manipur. If there are counterpoints I would like to be educated. There is virtually no rule of law. EN Rammohan, IPS (retd) and former advisor to the governor of Manipur, states, “The civil policemen and officers who were selected and trained as commandos soon deteriorated into a state terrorist force due to faulty leadership.” He says the Manipur commandos also extort money from the business community and over a period of time they have learnt to protect their own turf. There is a clear clash of interest and jurisdiction between the militants and the commandos. The continued presence of the AF(SP) Act is nothing but a licence for the security forces (read Army and paramilitary) to operate as a “state within a state”.

Although law and order is a state subject, the Union home ministry has often had to rap the Manipur chief minister on the knuckles for his failure to stem the tide of violence in the state. And Manipur continues to lean heavily on the Centre for its security apparatus. It is evident that Manipur has lost absolute control over the maintenance of even basic law and order, leave alone the violence unleashed by over a dozen armed underground groups. According to the 1999 National Crime Records Bureau report, only .04 per cent of heinous crimes, which include killing, maiming and rape, are taken to trial, meaning that the perpetrators are chargesheeted and face due legal processes. Of 2,302 cases, only 11 were tried. The national average of pendency of trials of heinous crimes is roughly about 80 per cent and Manipur is one of the rogue states that has added to that national average.

In Manipur, heinous crimes are usually not registered because of the fear of reprisal from the police and the perpetrators. Rape and other heinous crimes are on the rise. People are shot and killed without provocation almost on a daily basis and the state cannot be bothered. Only family members are left to mourn the dead. Cases almost end up with the phrase, “accused not found”. How can such a state not be called a failed state? A state that cannot protect the life and property of its citizens has lost it legitimacy to rule. The theory of social contract is that citizens submit to the state in return for safety and security. This theory has been put on its head in Manipur.

And now we have another more serious problem. We now have a rerun of the Quit India Movement except that this time around the non-tribals residing in Manipur, including those born and brought up there, have been told to pack and up and leave by 31 May 2010. The bugle was first sounded by the Revolutionary People’s Front, the armed wing of the People’s Liberation Army. Today several other armed outfits have joined the war cry. But the state is caught in a paralysis. Only recently the cabinet has set an embargo on the sale of property in Imphal with the hope of stemming the exodus of non-tribals from Manipur. The government is also probing the sale of property in the last 10 years to see if someone is acting as a front for laundering black money.

But this addresses only part of the problem or maybe none at all. At least about three per cent of the non-tribal population are small traders, cobblers, barbers, fruit-sellers, labourers and those doing laundry. Roughly about two per cent may be in bigger businesses and employed in different state and Central government organisations and in the public sector. There is a significant Nepali population that accounted for one legislator from that community some years ago. Overall, the non-tribal population may not exceed 10 per cent of the total indigenous residents. But the battle cry of the armed groups of Manipur is that they are trying to correct the demographic balance. The United Committee Manipur, in fact, wants the introduction of the Inner Line Permit which, to my mind, is one of the worst instruments of segregation.
I asked Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of Imphal Free Press, if the exodus of labourers would not create a vacuum in the labour market and would that not also create space for Bangladeshi labourers who are waiting in the wings to enter any such vacant space. Phanjoubam said the fact that only about less than 10 per cent of non-tribals lived in Manipur was not problematic if one only considered the ratio. But the troubling fact was that they were all congregated in and around Imphal and were therefore very visible and threatening for some. About Bangladeshis coming in and being aided by their co-religionists, the Pangals, Phanjoubam said this might not appear so simple because the Pangals themselves constituted a huge chunk of the labour class and they would not want the labour market to be hijacked by others. However, even the most optimistic Manipuri (Meitei) will agree that come 31 May some killings are bound to happen and, sadly, those killed will be the defenceless street hawkers or labourers.

This might take Manipur on another violent trajectory that may have undesirable consequences on society and the state. The state may embark on its own vendetta and it will be back to the dark days. As of now, even though landlords are told not to allow their non-tribal tenants to quit, they would not do so because they know the price of resistance is death. Looking to the state for protection and swift action is something Manipuris have given up a long time ago.

On the other hand, it would be interesting to watch how Manipur responds to this crisis. How can one state of the Indian Union ask Indians to quit its territory even while the Manipur government plays the fiddle? A similar xenophobia had afflicted Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland in the past and subtle pressures were put on non-tribals to leave, but never before have they been told upfront to obey the ultimatum or be killed. This phenomenon does not even yet have a name. Here is an internal insecurity of a different kind.

The writer is editor, The Shillong Times, and can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com

Children hold Naga flags as armed cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) stand guard

2010-05-07T10:04:00.001-07:00

Children hold Naga flags as armed cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) stand guard during a visit by the NSCN-IM General-Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, at Viswema village, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of Kohima, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

The leader of one of South Asian nation's longest-running insurgencies, who mostly lives in Thailand and the Netherlands, is on a journey to his hometown after more than 40 years.

(AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Weakness of NSCN’s demands for Nagalim

2010-05-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

y: Dr.Khomdon Singh Lisam

The history of Naga National movement is a long and tragic history . The Nagas have suffered to the extreme and have made great sacrifice to achieve Independence.
However, in view of the changing world political scenario, it is now time for them to rethink their strategy and goals. Vision and ambition is one thing , practicality is another thing .. They should think in terms of tangible results. It is their great wisdom that the Nagas have dropped their earlier demand of Independence from India. By September 1975, the Naga underground leaders were agreeable for the first time “ not to insist on independence as a precondition”. A six member underground delegation led by Kevi Yallya (Phizo’s brother) met L.P. Singh, Governor of Assam on 10 November, 1975 at Raj Bhavan, Shillong, which led to the signing of the “Shillong Accord”. On November 11, 1975, the “Shillong Accord” was signed between the Government of India and the NNC.( Naga National Council) Under this agreement, the NNC had agreed (1) to accept the solution of the Naga problem within the framework of the Indian Constitution, (2) abjure violence, bring out the armed men (3) to surrender weapons and resolve the residual problems through discussions.
Now their demand is Greater Nagaland or Nagalim or Southern Nagaland. It is a great achievement for them to have raised from “a village republic” to “Statehood”. The following are some of the historical facts and the general views of the common people of Manipur .
1. How many Naga tribes are there ? One early British military explorer in 1879 suggested 18 . Seventeen years later, a survey listed nine . In 1921, Hutton listed 14 as did Edwin in 1961, in the 1970 Horam gave 30 and Yonuo 38.Both these include some groups living in Burma, and a number of groups who would probably not have counted themselves as Nagas fifty years ago, but who for various reasons find it appropriate or advantageous to do so today” (Julian Jacobs, The Nagas, Hill Peoples of North east India Thames and Hudson Ltd, London–1998, page-20).
The different Naga tribes speak as many as thirty different dialects. There is no common language . The official language is English which is understood by few.. Many of these Naga tribes have unrelenting histories of internecine conflict. (Gill, 2001). There is enmity between Angamis, Koyaks, Lhotas, Tangkuls as evidenced from recent violence and killings in Nagaland.
2. Many of the so called Nagas so far identified recently belonged to Kukis of comparatively small population groups and they have agreed to be categorised as Nagas fearing violence from the Naga underground elements. The Nagas believed that this will increase Naga population and enlarge the Naga territory
3. The important factor in the development of Naga national consciousness and the only unifying force among the Nagas was Christianity–specifically that of the American Baptist Church. The Nagas called “ Nagaland for Christ “ with a view to win the Christian world on their side. The first American Baptist missionaries were invited into the Naga Hills by early British explorers such as Major Jenkins in the 1830s.
4. The “unique history of the Nagas” is that they do not have any written history. Nagas did not have a Raja or a King. Nagas did not have a well defined kingdom or territory. Even the term Naga was given by outsiders. Every village of every tribe was an independent republic in its own right. No tribe had ever ruled over any other tribe or any village over any other village. Naga society was literally the village .(Charles Chasie, The Naga Imbroglio-A personal perspective, United Publishers, Guwahati, 1999.). Moreover, there are many tribes in the north eastern India having such similar history .
5. The Nagas sing the National Anthem, probably borrowed from America in English . On 22 March, 1956, the NNC. set up its government–“Naga Central Government” replacing the earlier “Sovereign Republic of Nagaland “ set up in September, 1954 and hoisted the republic’s flag at Phesinyu, a Rengma village . An elaborate ceremony was organized with the singing of their National Anthem .:
God bless my Nagaland
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her ,
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains and the valleys
And the hill-tops where I roam,
God bless my Nagaland
My home , sweet home,
This song was probably borrowed from the American patriotic song originally written by Irving Berlin in 1918 “ God bless America”, which runs as follows :-
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
Irving Berlin originally wrote the song in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. The song was popularised by singer Kate Smith who introduced the revised version during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. "God Bless America" is a quintessentially American song. This anthem, with its history, is meaningful for Americans, but how does it resonate with the Nagas ?
6. In the pamphlet entitled Bedrock of Naga Society published by the Nagaland State Congress Party (Chief minister S.C. Jamir /NPCC, 2000), they raised the question “is it really true that Nagas have been a separate independent entity from time immemorial ? The same pamphlet gave the answer as follows -
“The stark and inescapable truth is that neither did we have a definite and unified political structure and nor did we exist as a nation. We were actually a group of heterogeneous, primitive and diverse tribes living in far-flung villages that had very little in common and negligible contact with each other. Each village was practically an entity in itself. The main contact between villages was through the savage practice of headhunting. Mutual suspicion and distrust was rife. Internecine warfare was the order of the day. There was no trust or interaction between different tribes. In these circumstances, the question of a unified Naga nation did not arise (NPCC, 2000).
7. The First World War show the seed of Naga National movement. During 1914-1919. the Naga National movement began during the First World War when a Labor Corps of about 4,000 Nagas, were sent to France, where they saw great civilized nations fighting for their ends and interests while Nagas were condemned as barbarous for their head hunting ways (Yunuo, 1974: 125; cited in Eaton, 1997: 256).
In 1918, after returning from France, twenty Nagas including few government officials and leading Naga chiefs formed an organisation known as the “Naga Club” at Kohima for promoting the interests of the Nagas. The Club was informally supported by local British administrators mainly Mr. Charles Pawsay, the then Deputy Commissioner. When Indian Independence was imminent, this same Naga Club transformed itself into Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946, at the behest of Mr. Charles Pawsay. Pawsay was rewarded and became Sir Charles Pawsay. Thus, a mere club became a National Council or Parliament. The first stirrings of Naga nationalism were prompted or at least encouraged by certain British Colonial Officers, who felt that the “distinctiveness of Naga culture” would be at risk in an united India. It will be recalled that the crystallization of the “tribes, Nagas” were itself aided, if not created, by British administrators and anthropologists.
8. The demographic realities does not support at all the Naga Cease Fire Extension and demand for Greater Nagaland or Nagalim .
• Senapati district is a pro-ceasefire and pro-NSCN area where apart from Nagas, there are Thadous (23060), Vaipheis(3057), Paites(202), Mizo(298), Kom(2602), Koireng(762), Koirao(918), Kabui(3702), Hmar(138), Gangte (347), Chiru (2064)and Aimol (86), who have openly protested against the extension of ceasefire to Manipur and vehemently opposed the idea of Greater Nagaland. Thus about 56% of the district population do not support the claim for Greater Nagaland.
• In Tamenglong district also, the population group of Thadous and other categories vehemently opposed the extension of ceasefire to Manipur and the idea of Greater Nagaland.
• Ukhrul district is the birthplace of Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN(IM). He has recruited a large number of Tangkhul youths to the NSCN cadres . But not all Tangkhuls are followers of Th. Muivah. Shri Rishang Keising and Youngmasho Shaiza were two prominent and popular Tangkhul leaders who, in spite of small size of Tangkhul population ruled Manipur as Chief Ministers of Manipur for more than 12 years and in whose time many resolutions opposing the demands of Greater Nagaland were passed unanimously by the State Legislative Assembly. Shri Rishang Keising is presently the Rajya Sabha M.P. nominated by the State Government of Manipur as Congress nominee. This shows the lack of unanimity of the demand for Greater Nagaland even among the Tangkhul Nagas.
10. The NSCN-IM is led by Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah. The outfit aims to establish a “Greater Nagaland” (‘Nagalim’ or the People’s Republic of Nagaland) based on Mao Tse Tung’s ideology. The outfit has also established a government-in-exile called the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland (GPRN). It has an estimated 4,500 strong cadre base. It is supported by a section of Aos, Semas, Zeilangs, Anals, Maos and Manipur-based Tangkhul Nagas. The NSCN (IM) has been passing its annual budget to the tune of Rs 200 million to Rs 250 million each year. It is alleged that drug trafficking from Myanmar is reported to be a major source of income for the NSCN-IM, and it also reportedly engages in extortion, bank robberies and other criminal pursuits to obtain finance. NSCN-IM uses money earned through narcotics trade to buy arms and also pay for training of their cadres. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/nagaland/terrorist_outfits/Nscn_im.htm )
11. The NSCN (IM)’s territorial claims to Kuki inhabited areas in Manipur and Assam is pregnant with the seeds of a bloody ethnic conflict. Kukis, who co-inhabit the hill districts of Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul in Manipur with the various Naga tribes, are averse to the concept of a Greater Nagaland or Nagalim or Southern Nagaland.
12. The ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the NSCN (IM) on the Kuki inhabitants of these districts between the summer of 1992 and winter of 1995 was perhaps intended to evict the Kukis from the so called Naga Territory or force them to identify themselves as Naga but the land belong to the Kukis for many centuries. Thus the NSCN has earned the image of “perpetrators of genocide”
13. The Kukis vehemently objected to the idea of integrating Naga areas of Manipur, which ultimately led to “Quit Notice “ and “Ethnic Cleaning “perpetrated by the NSCN leading a serious communal clash between the Nagas and Kukis in 1992-1994 where more than 900 innocent people were killed . In the Zoupi ( Tamenglong) in the massacre of 13 September, 1993, about 90 Kuki men were hacked to death with machetes. On 13 September, 1993, 13 infants were butchered to death in front of their mothers. On 7 June, 1993 at Khatong, Sadar Hills, 8 women were raped and then killed along with three men and three children .On 8 October, 1992, at Moultuh in Chandel district , three women were killed after being raped . Two men and one two month old child was also killed. On 19 November, 1994 at Thingsan in Chandel district, NSCN-IM cadres dressed in Indian Security Forces uniforms killed 25 Kuki men (P.S. Haokip, Zale’n-Gam, the Kuki Nation , Kuki National Organisation , 1998 – page- 530)
16. It is alleged that the NSCN (IM) openly indulged in terrorist activities like kidnapping, extortion, illegal drug trafficking, imposing compulsory tax to commercial vehicles running in the national highways. According to the World Geopolitics of Drugs 1995-1996 Report, the two branches of NSCN collect a “tax” of 20% of the value of drugs passing through the area under their control in Nagaland (The World Geopolitics of Drugs 1998-1999-Annual Report). This has become an open secret .
17. The NSCN imposed a tax on every commercial vehicle, charging Rs. 3000-5,000 per trip. Receipts for such collections are openly issued in the name of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland. In 1996, the first public protest against the NSCN(IM)’s extortion on the national highway—the sole supply line running through the Naga hill areas into the Manipur valley—was led by the Manipur Truck Drivers Association. The Meitei public supported this strike even though it led to a severe shortage of essential commodities and inflation. Despite such protests, the practice continues, and the current rate is reported to be Rs. 10,000. During such lengthy blockade of the National Highway sponsored by the NSCN(IM), there was a great scarcity of food in the valley and food have to be transported by air by the Government of India from neighbouring states. This weakened the claims of the NSCN(IM).

7 Social Media Aggregation Tools To Simplify Your Streams

2010-04-27T10:48:00.001-07:00

Social media overdrive and can cause social media overload. The dizzying speed of communication on social media platforms makes it tough to keep up with. It doesn’t matter if you’re purely a Facebook user, a die-hard Digg fanatic, a LinkedIn addict or someone who uses all three, streamlining your updates and postings through one source can be a liberating experience.
Fortunately, social media aggregation tools are becoming increasingly popular. Through online applications, widgets and desktop software, social media aggregators help condense your live updates and shares by providing a single location to broadcast multiple updates to.
So, give your thumbs a rest and step away from your Twitter account (we’ve heard that Bag Balm is good for calluses). Take a look at some of the social media aggregation tools that are currently available and start freeing up some of your time.

Hootsuite

Not only is this one of the most robust tools available, but Hootsuite is continually improving it’s interface and capabilities. This means that features you wish it had are probably only a month or two away from being implemented. This tool is web-based so there’s no messy installation involved. Online access lets you login to your account from any location to update and monitor – very convenient.
Hootsuite users are able to connect to multiple social media accounts from the application’s dashboard. Presently, there’s support for Twitter, Facebook Pages, Facebook, LinkedIn, Ping.fm, Wordpress.com, MySpace and Foursquare – quite a line-up. Hootsuite is packed with features that enable you to customize, track and post in the blink of an eye.

Here’s a rundown on some of what you’ll find inside Hootsuite:

Scheduling. Choose between live updates or pre-schedule posts and shares in advance.
Customize URLs. Add custom link parameters for tracking clicks and gathering information on your audience.
Files. Upload images, video and files right into your messages.
RSS feed. Connect to your RSS and send your blog to your social media streams.
Bookmark. Use the Hootsuite Hootlet from your browser toolbar to share pages and information quickly.
Mobile updates. Handheld integration lets you keep up with Hootsuite from your iPhone.
Tabbed layout. Create and customize columns that can be dragged and dropped in any order to your liking.
Multi-column layout. Harness the clutter and organize your social streams into news, keywords, friends and more.
Embeddable columns. Grab code from Hootsuite to embed search columns directly into your website.

It’s only fair to say that it’s our social media aggregator of choice. For others, Hootsuite is absolutely a tool worth looking into. Visit their site to read up on additional enhancements.

Tweetdeck

Originally a popular tool for tweeters, Tweetdeck has evolved into a comprehensive platform that services Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. Built using Adobe Air, it has a blend of rich-technology and customizable features that end users will enjoy using. The Tweetdeck platform is available for desktop, iPhone and iPad. It also plays well with others so you can use it on your Mac, PC or Linux system. Like other social media aggregators, Tweetdeck has a column-style format that silos your information.

Tweetdecks features are extensive:

Custom colors. Choose how you’d like your interface to appear and make it your own.
Filters. Set-up your columns to show you only what you want to know.
Notification. Get alerts for new tweets, mentions and direct messages. Excellent communication management feature.
Follower. Decide who to follow or unfollow, as well as report spam and mark your favorites.
URL. The bit.ly auto-shorten URL is incorporated for tweets and image uploads.
Sync. Set-up Tweetdeck to suit your personal tastes and keep it that way regardless of whether you access it through your laptop or your handheld.
Lists. Track your favorites and organize them into Twitter lists right from your dashboard.
Trends. See what’s hot with local trends and Twitscoop.
Shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts speed up your actions so you can maximize your time with Tweetdeck.

Tweetdeck is a free and powerful tool that has a large following and fantastic support. As the social media universe evolve so has Tweetdeck. People will find this to be an absolutely wonderful tool that will help them get back on track with their social media efforts.
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Netvibes

Netvibes is a web-based personalized dashboard publishing tool. The easiest way to describe Netvibes would be to call it a favorite webpage on steroids. Setting is as your browser’s homepage allows users to create a customized hub that pulls all things digital into one central location. From emails received to weather updates, your Netvibes page becomes command central for everything that matters to you.
Aside from a beautiful interface, Netvibes makes it very simple to position widgets and modules exactly where you want them with built-in drag and drop capabilities. Just grab what you want with your mouse and move it to a location on your Netvibes page and you’re done. Additionally, tabs can be created to further organize and tailor your dashboard. This is a fantastic way to keep all things Facebook in one location and all things Twitter in another.
Here’s a little secret – if your employer has you on social media lock-down, you can use Netvibes to bypass the IT guards by connecting through your personalized tabs. Sneaky, sneaky!

So what can you do with Netvibes? We’ll give you a little taste below:

Social media. Manage your Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as followers and friends from central location.
Netvibes Smart Reader. Use this RSS reader to stream all the latest feeds to you in real-time.
Tracking. Follow dozens of blogs, activity streams and Twitter conversations all at a glance.
Personalize. Create your own personal dashboard and enjoy the web exactly the way you like it by choosing from 100s of themes and backgrounds.
Widgets. With one of the largest widget collections available, personalization options with Netvibes are endless. Drag and drop to your heart’s content.
Email. Pull from web-based or POP email accounts and never miss a new message again.
Share it. Invite friends, family, clients, co-workers or the general public to interact and view your Netvibes page.
Infinite publishing. Multiple page publishing, WYSIWYG design tools, free hosting and full HTML support makes web everything a breeze.
Community. Connect with other Netvibe users to expand your network and build your contact base.

Check out Netvibes and take a tour for a in-depth look at this tool.

Yoono

Yoono is a social networking feed mashup tool. Mashup means an application or website that uses or combines information or functionality from multiple external sources to create a new service. Yoono is available as a browser add-on for Firefox or as a desktop application for Mac, Windows and Linux.
As far as social media aggregation tools go, Yoono connects you to your social networks and messengers. It unifies your status updates into a single stream of information and lets you update your status across all your social networks at once. Social media sites that are currently supported include, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, FriendFeed and Flickr. Messenger services are available through Google Talk, AIM, Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

Yoono highlights:

Add-on or stand-alone. You can decide between integrating Yoono into your browser or featuring it on your desktop.
Browse. Yoono is intuitive and learns what you like based on websites that you’re viewing.
Widget. Based on the webpage you’re browsing, receive recommendations for other sites, news, videos, products, images and more.
Social sharing. A bookmarklet allows you to share content, images and video from any site with your social network contacts.

Their are similarities to other social media aggregators, like the the types of social networks you can connect to and the interface’s column layout. For someone who doesn’t need all the bells and whistles, Yoono is a great option.

Flock

What makes Flock completely different from all the other tools reviewed is that it’s full-fledged browser. It’s even referred to as the browser for social butterflies. Social media integration is what drives the Flock browser.
Instead of having to share login information through separate channels, it can be contained in one spot with Flock. Definitely a thumbs up for preserving online security. On the other hand, because Flock is a web-browser, you might want to consider abandoning FireFox, Safari and making a complete switch, otherwise, you’ve got a browser that’s only being used for social media aggregation. That’s kinda like ordering a giant burger with the works and only eating the tomatoes.

Services included with Flock:

Auto connection. Hook-up automatically with more than 20 of your favorite online services like Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, Xanga, YouTube and more.
Blogging. A blog editor allows you to compose blog posts online or offline for posting.
Webmail. Instant notification of incoming messages from major webmail providers.
People sidebar. Collect all your social media pals in one place.
Web clipboard. Snatch, grab and collect links, images and other bits of info to share later with the clipboard feature.
Feed reader. Centralizes all your favorite feeds into one reader to keep things organized.
Customize it. Install your favorite FireFox extension and incorporate backgrounds and images to make Flock your own.
Media. Quickly find and browse photos and videos from your favorite sites.

Profilactic

Next in the web-based line-up is Profilactic. Most people have more than one social media profile and that can make it a royal pain to jump from site to site, logging in and checking to see what your friends and contacts are up to. Profilactic has turned this task into a thing of the past. The core of its design is based on bringing everything together, and we do mean everything. You can pull blogs, RSS feeds and more than 185 online social sites into your Profilactic universe!
Users interact with two functions. The first is the user’s update feed and the second is a digest of what’s occurring on all the other platforms. Pretty handy indeed. There’s also an auto-clipping component that is similar to a digital scrapbook. Auto-clipping can be used to identify, tag and track social entries about the you or your friends. Plus, you can control what updates you want to receive based on importance.

Other features that can be found on Profilactic are:

Badges. You can take your profile information and lifestream and integrate with your website or blog with one of these.
Clean. Regardless of how many social streams you’re pulling from, the interface is very neat and easy to navigate. Simplicity at its best.
Lifestreaming. A true example of what lifestreaming is all about. Profilactic is a one-stop-shop that blends the whole process without a flaw.
Post & update. Let everyone know what you’re up to. Profilactic syncs to more than 10 social sites. One update across many networks.
Free. Doesn’t cost a penny. All you have to do is register with the site and you’re finished. It’s beyond easy.
Convenient accessibility. Because it’s online based, you can check-in as long as you have a connection to the internet.

Discover how Profilactic can help you organize your social media habits with a quick visit to their site.

Socialite

For Mac users who are interested in social media maintenance and aggregation, Realmac Software’s Socialite may be what you’re looking for. You get the perks of having a downloadable application with a Mac-like design, clean and slick, combined with the power of managing your social media accounts from your Mac. There is a catch (isn’t there always) – Socialite isn’t free, however it is reasonably priced at only $20 per license.

You won’t be burdened by columns or multiple windows. What you’ll find is an uncluttered application that is easy to navigate. So what do you get with Socialite:

Google Reader. Even if you don’t use GR you can still use the alternative RSS feed with Socialite.
Social networks. Socialite supports Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Digg.
HUD option. Known as the Heads Up Display, this pop-up box gives you mini-view of the status for all your peeps.

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Try Socialite out for free before you buy. The trial is a full-version and it lets you explore the functionality without having to first.
What are some of the social media aggregation tools that you’re using? Any hidden gems that you’d like to share? Comment freely.

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Tourism dose to save Jokai forest

2010-04-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

NEC grants Rs 2.34 crore to turn woods into adventure haunt for visitors

Jokai botanical garden. A Telegraph picture

Dibrugarh, April 27 : The ill-guarded Jokai reserve forest has received a financial tonic of Rs 2.34 crore from the Centre, which will help turn the woods into an eco-tourism haunt, complete with huts and ethnic cuisine.

The North Eastern Council has agreed to finance the Rs 2.34 crore Jokai Botanical Garden Development and Eco-tourism Project after repeated pleas from the Dibrugarh forest division.

The eco-tourism project will come up next to the Jokai Botanical Garden and Germplasm Centre, 15km from Dibrugarh town.

“We are going to add another 35 hectares to the existing 32 hectares of the botanical garden. Species on the verge of extinction will be planted in these areas. Moreover, we will also have a library adjacent to the interpretation centre. We will arrange for screening of movies and documentaries on weekends for students and visitors,” Anurag Singh, the divisional forest officer of Dibrugarh division, said.

“There will also be an orchid house, since Jokai has around 20 to 25 varieties of orchids,” the DFO said.

A huge water body — called erashuti — near the reserve forest is home to various kinds of indigenous fishes and turtles. “Utmost care has been taken not to disturb the habitat of the water fowls which build their nests in these water bodies. Nesting, laying of eggs by fowls will be a rare sight for visitors to watch from a designated distance in countryboats. We will not allow mechanised boats,” Singh, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, said.

The department will also construct eco-huts in and around the erashuti for tourists.

There will be performances in the evenings by cultural troupes from villages on the fringe of the forest.

During the day, visitors can trek, take elephant rides or a jeep safari.

“All the proceeds will go towards maintenance of the amenities as well as socio-economic development of the surrounding villages,” Singh added.

The Jokai reserve forest, like many others of its kind, sanctuaries and national parks of the state, is very poorly guarded.

“For an area of around 1,300 hectares, there are only seven forest staff headed by a beat officer. This is totally inadequate. The government must urgently address this issue in order to preserve the forest,” Nakul Khound, the co-ordinator of IRAB-KIRAB, an NGO, said.

“Conservation and protection of forests is an issue which the department cannot address single-handedly. For this, we need co-operation from the local community. This is why we have decided to involve the local people in the project so that they can earn something out of the venture,” the DFO said.

The Parable Of The Vamp

2010-04-25T02:33:00.000-07:00

WHAT DOES TRASHING SUNANDA PUSHKAR SAY ABOUT OUR ATTITUDES TO WOMEN, ASKS SHOMA CHAUDHURY
AMIDST THE immense noise of the IPL controversy, away from public view, a woman has been confronted with a deeply personal crisis: she can no longer recognise herself. A massive juggernaut has rolled over her, crushed her out of shape, and moved on without a backward glance. She has been left to cope with the painful out-of-body experience of watching the mangled remains of who she used to be. Left to muse, in private bewilderment, why her image and the person she knew herself to be no longer matched.
Sunanda Pushkar, the woman in the tableau, was not hit by some unheeding truck. She was hit by the media. As Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, the doctor parents of the slain Aarushi, know only too well, this is not the first time it’s happened. In its feeding frenzy for 24 /7 excitement, the media has developed a curious way of turning fathers into murderers; women into vamps. Facts, evidence, the line between public and private — all the good, old-fashioned gears of journalism no longer have any place. Rash allegations are enough. The rear-view mirrors are gone. You can now recklessly ride over people and not look back.

'I’m proud of bringing up my son all by myself'
SUNANDA PUSHKAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SELF- RELIANT. SHE HAS HELD MANY JOBS, CROSSED MANY CONTINENTS. IN THE LAST FORTNIGHT, SHE HAS WATCHED THE MEDIA MUTILATE HER RESUMÈ. NOW, IN A STIRRING INTERVIEW, SHE WRESTS BACK THE STORY OF HER TRUE SELF

Over the last two weeks then, every real and fictitious fragment of Pushkar’s life has been dragged onto airwaves and newsprint: Men she has and has not married; men she has and has not slept with; money she has and has not made; jobs she has and has not done. People have spoken with dripping scorn about her “eye-popping life”, her “insatiable ambition”, her work with “starlets and bimbos”, her “vampire-like thirst” and her “Louis Vuitton victimhood”. They have dissected her diaphanous saris and conjured clingy ones she’s never worn. The general consensus has been: She isn’t enough a girl’s girl. And for this transgression, she had to be crushed. So, overnight, Sunanda Pushkar was transformed from a living, breathing woman with a history of her own into a “proxy bimbette”.
What did Pushkar do to merit this public mauling? The reasons trotted out are that Pushkar is romantically involved with former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and has therefore been given disproportionate sweat equity worth Rs 70 crore in the Kochi cricket team he helped put together. One can debate the finer points of propriety about Pushkar having equity, independently or otherwise, in a project Tharoor was closely associated with. Prima facie, it appears there was absolutely no exchange of money. Nor was there any misuse of public funds. In a world of brazen corruption then, this could only count as a minor lapse in manners. The curious thing is, the uproar over the sweat equity itself seemed misplaced. With the same reckless disregard for fact, everyone has forgotten that the offending Rs 70 crore does not exist as yet. Sweat equity is risky: There are no payments upfront. If the going is good, you take the ride; if not, there’s nothing.
So, the truth is, the reasons Pushkar has been pilloried lie elsewhere. Imagine for a moment that instead of Pushkar some nephew of Tharoor had been given sweat equity. Would the media have ferreted out every last detail about his girlfriends and colour of bedsheet — imagined or real? Pushkar says the last fortnight has been akin to a medieval witch hunt. She is right. A deep and unthinking misogyny has underscored all the reporting on her. Her real crime is that she is an attractive 46-year old widow, who is bright, vivacious and hot — in the way only those women can be, who have a comfortable relationship with themselves; who understand that beauty does not preclude one from being kind; or protect one from sorrow. If the media had wanted to try the two for financial impropriety, it should have stuck to doing that. Instead, all of it has become an ugly spectacle about a society trying to decide what women are allowed and not allowed to be. Ambition, sass, and self-assured sexiness are clearly high on the list of India’s penal code for women. This is why Pushkar has been asked by “well-wishers” to stay out of view. This is why she’s in the process of being tamed for Indian public life. The story of how Sunanda Pushkar has been treated then is not the story of just one woman: it is a parable about the society we are.
There are so many versions of your life floating in the media, would you like to put the facts on record first.
I don’t really want to. My son and parents have already suffered enough on this. How many times I got married, who I dated — what does any of that have to do with the IPL?

Sunanda Pushkar with her now deceased second husband Sujit Menon, her father and uncles in Jammu.

That’s true, but unfortunately the absence of facts has allowed everyone to maul your image. There’ve been reports that you divorced your first husband Sanjay Raina because you fell in love with his friend Sujit Menon. Also that Sujit committed suicide because he was in financial trouble. Even if all this were true, it still wouldn’t make you a bad person, but the key thing is to establish how much is truth, how much fiction.
(Sighs) You are right. It’s probably important to set the record straight. My first marriage was a very dark period in my life. Everyone’s saying Sanjay Raina divorced me, but that’s not true, I divorced him. It was a very painful relationship but I don’t want to go into that. It’s over; he’s moved on, I’ve moved on. I was 19 when I met him and very innocent. My dad was in the army and I had a very protected childhood. I was always sorry for the underdog. My family and friends used to teasingly call me Mother Teresa. I was helping flood victims in Ambala in grade six. When I was in Jesus and Mary Convent, I used to work with abandoned and physically challenged children at an ashram. There was a blind and spastic kid there who was particularly attached to me. No one wanted him because he wasn’t very nice looking, but I used to bathe and feed him. Curiously, many people spoke badly of Sanjay, saying he was strange. Maybe in the beginning that is what drew me more to him.
But the marriage was a big mistake. I was totally unprepared for the worst. ‘The media said, why should the Kochi team pick me? As a woman am I not good enough?’ Soon after we got engaged I told my father I wanted to break it off. I had realised Sanjay and I were very mismatched but my father wouldn’t listen. For Kashmiri Pandits, if you got engaged, you had to marry; we’d never had a broken marriage in the family. Mine fell apart within days. I had a really tough time getting a divorce in Delhi. It was a very lonely time. My parents didn’t want me to divorce even though they knew what was going on. Looking back, I understand them now, but I felt very abandoned then.
The truth is Sujit rescued me. He gave me the strength, as a friend, to quit a very painful marriage. But he was dating another woman; I was just a friend. I got my divorce in 1988 and went off to Dubai in 1989. I married Sujit in 1991; my son Shivy was born in November 1992. If I had left Sanjay over Sujit, why would I have waited that long to marry him?
What about Sujit’s death? That has been turned into something very mysterious as well.

With baby Shiv at home in Dubai

Yes, my son has had a really rough time dealing with those reports. But my husband died in an accident in Karol Bagh in March 1997. I can show you the death certificate. I had a really harrowing time finding the body and had to go from morgue to morgue searching for it. Again, it was a very dark time. Sujit was a financial consultant and he had run into some financial trouble. I disagreed with many of his business decisions at the time and after his death I got several threatening calls from his creditors. But that was less important to me than the fact that after his death, Shivy suddenly stopped talking. It was very strange, he probably got scared. He was barely four. There was so much to do — papers and fresh visas to be sorted, debts to pay. So I left him with my sister-in-law and, later, my parents for a few months. I keep asking them, someone tell me what happened to him because when I went to pick up my son, he had stopped talking. I took him to Dubai but in those days there was no concept of speech therapy there. I began to look for the best affordable health care and that’s how I hit upon Canada. I moved there to help my son. I had been doing pretty well at work, but I didn’t have that much money to spare. I was supporting my parents, supporting my brother through engineering college, trying to pay off Sujit’s debts.

‘The media said, why should the Kochi team pick me? As a woman am I not good enough?’

Why did you need to support your parents financially? Everyone says your family was very wealthy.
Yes, we were wealthy till the trouble began in Kashmir in 1989. We had orchards and a lot of land. But after ‘89, my family suffered like everyone else. Luckily, they were wealthy enough that they didn’t have to go live in a tent. But I did help them financially to find their feet again. They couldn’t afford to put their son through college — you know you have those donations and capitation fees. I did all that.
Part of the muck being thrown at you for having sweat equity in the Kochi team is that you don’t have professional standing that merits it, so you must be a front for Shashi Tharoor. How do you respond to this?
I cannot tell you how insulted I feel. I’ve been fiercely independent and self-reliant all my life. And I’ve always been proud that I have made it alone — on my own terms — in a man’s world. And here, in one minute, without bothering to find out any facts the media just turned me into a slut, into some kind of brainless eye candy! I don’t know why people find it so hard to understand this — I really don’t care about money in that grasping way. Yet, please don’t misunderstand me. I enjoy making money, I think there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a woman being ambitious. I like cars and watches but I don’t need any man to get anything for me. My kick is to buy it myself. I like to earn my own keep. I’d be very happy to set up home with a man I loved, but I would not marry a man just because he can buy me diamonds. I’m not judgmental about women who do that, I’m just saying I wouldn’t. So when people say I got into all this as a front for Shashi, chasing influence and money, it savages my soul. What else can I say?
The media has said, for Rs 70 crore, the Kochi team could have hired any foreign marketing firm, why would they pick me? Forget that no one in India seems to have understood the basics about sweat equity — there is simply no 70 crore on the table, in fact not one paisa has changed hands so far, and there will be no profits for years to pay anybody — but what is this attitude? As a woman I am not good enough? Some foreigner can do better than an Indian? And we call ourselves a superpower? Is this 21st century India or the British Raj?

With her father at her wedding to Sujit at the Shiva temple in Kochi,Kerala

Could you then run us through your career graph a bit ?
When I came to Dubai for the first time I worked in tourism. I had ideas about dhow cruises and dune dinners — much before Emirates Holidays even existed. Our accounts included Philippines airlines, Romanian airlines, Brazilian airlines — so I had lots of corporate clients. After I married Sujit, I got into events. Someone reported that all my shows made losses. That hurt. Sujit and I did only one event together which went badly — a Mammooty show which people have been writing all kinds of nonsense about. But apart from that I don’t think I did any events that made a loss.
I started my own company called Expressions with four or five people. We began to do many model shows for product launches. Everyone does it now, but it was a complete trendsetter then. I did 13 shows with Hemant Trivedi, shows with Rhea Pillai, Vikram Phadnis, Aishwarya Rai. When the Gulf War started, we did big fund raisers for the ‘We love Kuwait’ campaign.
After a while I got a great offer from an ad agency called Bozell Prime. I handled many big campaigns for them — Wella, Hersheys, Chrysler cars. I did big multi-million dollar events for Modern Pharmaceuticals. That was the most beautiful time of my life. But after Sujit died, I gave up Bozell for Shivy. I didn’t want a baby-sitter. He had gone into a complete shell and I was frightened for him and wanted to be there for him. So that last year in Dubai before I went to Canada, I worked with Ravissant.

‘Calling me a beautician from Dubai is not derogatory. It’s just not true’

In Canada, I had to start from scratch. I’d literally gone there with a suitcase and my child. But you know, Shoma, I have never taken my resume and looked for a job.I have always felt I can carve a niche for myself on my own terms. I’ve always been an entrepreneur that way. So for a while, I did many odds and ends. Then some friends in New York — two doctors who are still among my closest family friends — suggested I get into the IT sector which had just begun to boom. Everyone was looking for computer engineers from India, so we tied up with companies like Compaq and head-hunted in India for them.
After a while a friend in San Francisco alerted me that a company called Valley Resources wanted a partner. I told them I had no money to invest but they still wanted me. So, talk about sweat equity — (laughs) — that was my first sweat equity! It was a lot of fun and we did mighty well and made good money. I put Shivy in a private school; I bought ourselves a house; I got a BMW. And I did all this from the basement of my house. And through all that, I never used babysitters. I’m proud of bringing up my son by myself. Many of my friends across the world who knew me at that time are really disheartened and outraged by the way I am being portrayed in the media.
The press has been saying you are a beautician, a spa-owner, a mystery woman from Dubai — where did they get all that from?
Can you imagine! I have no idea where they got it! These reports were meant to deride me. I don’t even feel there’s anything derogatory about being a beautician — it’s just that it’s completely not true! I ran a small jewellery shop for a while, but while they were trying to ferret fictitious details about my life, they didn’t even come across that!
You know, all through my life, at different phases, things have fallen apart and each time I have just picked myself up and put the pieces back. I am a very positive person: I always say, this too shall pass. I am a great believer in Shiva and the idea of karma, so I never question and complain and ask why is this happening to me. I always tell myself that things happen to you so that you can learn from it. But this has been the biggest test I have ever faced.
We’ll come back to the way the press has reported on you and what impact that’s had on you; and what it says about attitudes to women in India. But, first, could you finish telling us about your professional life.
Just as our IT business was booming, 9/11 happened. This hit us bad and we had to shut shop. There was four months of anxiety and no work. We were cleaned out financially. That’s when I got into Emotional Intelligence. It was the latest thing in Canada those days. I did a course and joined a company called Noble House International. We started something called Human Potential Reengineering. [sighs] We did lots of programmes for banks like Royal Bank of Canada and ABN Amro in Miami, Amsterdam and Geneva. It was fun but I was not earning enough.

‘The film Corporate disgusted me. Must a woman sleep around to get business?’

Then in 2004, Best Homes offered to send me to Dubai to set up their operations there in real estate. If I think about it, real estate runs in my blood. More than buying and selling, I love developing properties. I love the blueprint stage, the planning and the zoning. So I came back to Dubai in August 2004 as general manager of Best Homes and worked on a big project with them.

Pushkar celebrating Diwali with her son and friends in Toronto,Canada in 2003.

Dubai had changed completely. My friends had all become rich and powerful; there was a completely different buzz. But Shivy was not very happy and I was just planning to go back to Canada and start again, when I was offered a job by Mohamad-bin-Ghalib of Tecom to work on an International Media Production Free Zone. This was one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever worked on. We had to plan publishing zones, convention centres, hotels, schools and hospitals over 44 million square feet of land. Then I was offered a position that the company usually only gives to locals — I had to sell land to Gulf nationals. Everyone thought I’d fail because I didn’t know Arabic. But as one of my bosses said about me, “She can sell sand to the Arabs and ice to the Eskimos!”
Were you a sales manager there? Some press reports have been saying that you actually live — to use their words — in a ‘low-class ghetto’ in Dubai and that Shashi was a leg up for you socially and financially. How would you speak of yourself? As middle- class, well-to-do, very well-to-do?
I think I’m pretty well to do. I drive a Range Rover. My son has a driver and a Ford. I live in a decent apartment because I don’t want to live in a villa and have the headache of a garden and stuff because there’s just the two of us. I have a cook and a domestic help. I own two 3-bedroom apartments in Jumeirah Palm. I also own a beachside apartment in Jumeirah Beach Residence, and I have two apartments in Executive Towers. I only live in this rented apartment because it’s close to Shivy’s school and his friends live around here. I also have my house in Canada and some land in Jammu. So I’m pretty alright, I think. I’m pretty alright. [laughs]
That’s an understatement.
Yeah, I guess, I’m okay. The part I feel really good about is that I’ve done it all on my own. The only thing they’ve got right about me is that I was a sales manager at Tecom. What they don’t get is that this suited my entrepreneurial spirit just fine because it allowed me to get a commission over my salary.
Of all the kite flying about you in the media then, what aspect has really upset you the most? Oh God, I can so tell you that! It’s been like a medieval witch hunt! It’s been so misogynistic. The bizarre part is, I think it’s not even just to do with my being a woman, it’s to do with my being an attractive woman. That’s what makes it even more disgusting. That’s what really makes me sick to the core of my being. That, to so many people in this society, if you are attractive you are immediately deemed to be a loose woman.

‘Why are they accusing me of being a proxy for Shashi? Can’t I make my own money?’

What have they not said about me! I am supposed to be married to some automobile businessman in Delhi; my second husband is supposed to have committed suicide; I am supposed to have slept with god knows how many men, and I am supposed to be a tart.
I have always prioritised Shivy because he is the most important thing in my life and I have always been proud that I had made it alone, on my own terms, in a man’s world, and in one minute, without checking on any facts, they have just reduced me to a slut. Just because I am an attractive working woman in a man’s world.

Sunanda Pushkar with the UAE's Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikh Lubna Al Qasimi

All my women friends in Dubai — women from all across the world, Serbia, England, America, Canada — are so upset. They are furious! As one of them said, we thought India is going to be a world power, but how can they be when their attitudes to women are so warped!
I have realised that women have made some inroads into politics in India, but in business? God forbid, you want to be feminine and wear nice saris or dresses into a boardroom — that’s totally not allowed. I saw a Hindi film called Corporate — it disgusted me. A woman must sleep around with someone to get business, she can’t get it otherwise? She must utilise her body and only then her brain will function. Suddenly — boom! — her brain is functioning because men are sleeping with her!
I have a wonderful, grown-up son — a son who says that whenever he thinks of duty and integrity and honesty, he thinks of his mother. I want to ask all these people in the media, if I was sleeping around, when did I have the time to bring up my child?
Do you know that there was a report that said I went to Jitin Prasada’s wedding wearing a bright-red, clingy, seethrough sari with a low cut blouse and some socialite is supposed to have sniggered that this was just not the “Congress code”. I wasn’t even in Delhi for Jitin’s wedding. I went to his reception huddled inside a black sari and shawl because I was so cold. How much can the media lie?
There’s another thing I want to clarify. They are saying I have given up my shares to save Shashi Tharoor. Now, I’m not even supposed to have that much agency of my own! I DID NOT give it up for Shashi Tharoor. I gave it up for exactly the reason that I said in my statement: I have no enthusiasm to work on this anymore. You tell me, Shoma, after all that has happened would you have the enthusiasm to work with the IPL? I might still do stuff for them, as I said, because I love Kerala — but how can they turn around and crucify me for something I am giving up in disgust? One BJP man said that the fact I am giving it up is further proof of my corruption. I mean how much more perverse and bewildering can things get? And now I have someone impersonating me on Facebook when I don’t have either a Twitter or Facebook account!

One of my bosses said about me, ‘She can sell sand to the Arabs and ice to the Eskimos!’

I have to say the conjecturing about you has been shameful.
(Starting to cry) I have always thought of myself as a kind, proud, honest and ethical person. I can’t recognise what they have turned me into publicly. In my family, everyone calls me ‘Didi’ — even my father — because I am the person everyone turns to for help. I was always the ‘boy’ in the family. I never even had a doll as a child. So even now, though this is my worst fall, I am not asking why all of this has happened to me. I am sure there is a larger lesson to be learnt and I am sure I am going to grow from this. And mark my words, I will grow, I will come out of this a bigger and better person. I can feel it in my bones. I’m sure I’ve made mistakes in my life; I’m just a regular human being. But I keep telling myself, I must be a good person because, god knows, I have brought up a good child.

Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar at a New Delhi book launch in March. GETTY IMAGES

Let’s talk about Shashi Tharoor and the IPL. How did you meet? How did the IPL thing come about? What is the sweat equity everyone is in a tizzy about?
I don’t really want to talk about Shashi because everything I say will have some repercussion for him. He is a public figure, I am not. But I met him about two years ago through a friend called Sunny Varkey, and we got along immediately. We are certainly close now, but that closeness only developed less than five months ago. I am very proud to know him because, most of all, he is a good and honest man.
As far as the IPL goes, again the media has twisted my words. I have known Karim and Ali Murani since 1998, since we were all in the events business. Over the years they have become close friends. When they took on KKR, I was generally throwing ideas at them about how they should market and package the team. Ali liked my ideas enough to ask me to come down to Bombay to discuss working for them — the Muranis, not KKR itself. The conversation was serious enough for me to fly down to Mumbai, but Shivy was still in school so we all just let it slide. But that’s how I first got to know about the IPL.
As far as the sweat equity for the Kochi team goes, I am genuinely bewildered by the allegations of corruption. I did agree to offer my skills as a marketing consultant. I have a knack for it. I also helped them raise a lot of money. But there’s been absolutely no exchange of money between us. I don’t even have the shares. It’s more like a promissory note with absolutely no guarantee that the shares will amount to anything. People are calling me and saying why did you give up the Rs 70 crore? What Rs 70 crore? It’s not there! I haven’t earned it as yet, there’s no surety I ever will. People have been throwing up fantastical numbers — what no one seems to understand is that all of it is notional. I am told Mumbai Indians made a loss of 40 odd crore last season, so there’s a huge risk involved. There’s no money upfront.
And again, why are they accusing me of being a proxy for Shashi? That’s so insulting. Can’t I make my own money? He has not been corrupt for so many years — for which I am proud to be his friend — why would he be corrupt now? Just look around you in India and see the corruption — in government, in industry, in every crevice of public life and they call this corruption! Indians couldn’t handle a man who is not corrupt so you tainted him and literally made him look corrupt so that he had to leave government and not embarrass his party! [laughs]

CALM BEFORE THE STORM Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar

My faith in India is so shaken. Shashi and others keep telling me not to say this, but I don’t know Shoma — why shouldn’t I say it? I am shocked at the way events unfurled. It had no basis in truth. There was no intention of even getting to the truth. Why has the media taken this beyond the realm of reality. I can’t understand it!
There were three people in politics that really created hope for millions of Indians across the world that even clean men can join politics — Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor. I know that when Shashi entered politics, many Indians felt, oh, if he can, even we can. Otherwise Indian politics was always thought of as such a dirty game. But Shashi has been hounded out for now — ironically — for not being dirty enough. In just the cricket scene I know how much corruption is floating about, but the big powerful men will get away, and Shashi has been made a sacrifice. Was Shashi given a fair hearing? The media made sure he couldn’t get one. As I said, it was a medieval witch hunt in every way.

How to socialize your website

2010-04-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

Do you have a boring website? If you’d like to make it more interactive and social, Hubspot has compiled a list of four ways to accomplish this goal:

Product reviews
Commenting
Customer curation
Becoming a social network

Full story at Hubspot.

Enjoy your meal, get virus for free

2010-04-19T23:51:00.003-07:00

RIPUNJOY DAS

DIBRUGARH

Food containers from roadside eateries being cleaned in Dibrugarh. Picture by Eastern Projections

April 19: The next time you relish that delicious dal makhani at a roadside dhaba and desperately want to peep into the kitchen for the recipe, don’t bother. Chances are you won’t survive the experience.

Vegetables are cut on unwashed floors in unhygienic storerooms and cooked beside clogged drains with rodents running around.

Not just dhabas, the hygiene standards in restaurant kitchens across Dibrugarh are just as horrifying.

Whether the food is cooked in adulterated oil or leftover oil remains to be inspected by the authorities concerned.

“Cooks and waiters are also required to abide by certain codes pertaining to dress while cooking and serving. However, an inspection of some of the restaurants in Dibrugarh town showed that vegetables like potatoes, pumpkins and bottle gourd were peeled and cut on unclean floors,” Kumud C. Borah, the secretary of Dibrugarh Consumer Protection Forum, alleged.

Sweets are also prepared in dusty rooms.

Most eateries have staff latrines attached to the kitchen — the primary reason why most owners do not allow customers into the kitchen.

Almost all the hotels flout norms laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, Borah added.

There are also allegations that the health officer or sanitary inspector of the Dibrugarh Municipal Board overlooks safety norm violations by roadside food vendors and eateries.

When the violations were brought to the notice of the chairman of the board, Chandra Kanta Baruah, he promised to “look into the matter and take necessary steps in this regard”.

Most of these vendors wash cups and plates in a bucket of water recycled through the entire day.

Such food, if consumed, can cause diseases like diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis, with symptoms like vomiting and indigestion. Neurological problems, too, can be triggered, said Dr A.K. Das, an associate professor in the department of medicine at the Assam Medical College and Hospitals, Dibrugarh.

The district administration has been acting on errant restaurants but the inspections are sporadic, allowing eatery owners to flout health norms without fear of penalty.

Around a year ago, the circle officer of Dibrugarh (east), Sarangapani Sarmah, had closed down two prominent restaurants in Chowkidingee for not conforming to rules.

“The fact that the district administration is failing to rein in hotels and eateries despite forming separate inspection teams shows utter disregard for public safety. Therefore, we appeal to the administration to maintain strict vigil,” said Jyoti Sankar Chaliha, a social worker and resident of Milannagar.

Cheating the innocents using media

2010-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

By Jaydip

The modus operandi of the chit funds is very simple. They start with a well-decorated office fitted with computers and other modern gadgets. Gradually they open different types of business along with investment schemes.

CHIT FUND companies are playing a dubious role in the country, particularly in Tripura. The government is worried about the increasing number of chit funds, particularly in the rural areas. To gain the confidence of people, chit funds are now engaged in multiple activities including publishing newspapers. Finance Minister, Badal Chowdhury appealed to people to stay away from the chit funds. In several cases, chit funds cheated the people and ran away with their money.

The modus operandi of the chit funds is very simple. They start with a well-decorated office fitted with computers and other modern gadgets. Gradually they open different types of business along with investment schemes. Among the supporting business, construction business is very common. Some of the big players are also involved in several agro-based businesses. Showing the profit in those businesses, chit fund operators lure common people to invest in those businesses. People subscribe with a hope of extraordinary return within a specified period. It is true that people have received the promised amount in certain cases. However, number of allegations relating to loss of money of the investors is also alarming and growing in numbers.

It may be noted that most of the chit funds institutions have their head office located at other states. So, it is easy for the fund managers to flee from the state and hide elsewhere. Ultimately, poor people lose their hard-earned money. For common people, it is very difficult to distinguish between a fraud scheme and a genuine one.

The state government and state police department are willing to act against the chit fund institutions. However, such institutions have cleverly camouflaged their main business behind other business activities. As a result, taking action against the offender is a big task. A dangerous trend is fast emerging in Tripura. Chit fund firms are entering into print and electronic media. These firms have launched daily newspapers and purchased slots in electronic media. Reportedly, few accredited journalists have joined and are working in those newspapers. In Tripura, most of the newspapers play crucial role in shaping public view as well as to put pressure on the government. As the opposition party, Congress, is virtually non-existing, role of the newspapers have increased in many folds. Opposition party is silent about the chit funds. Several newspaper published news relating to chit funds and the government swung into action.

Several experts are worried about new tactics of the chit fund firms. These funds are using newspaper and electronic media as vehicles to reach to common people. Each newspaper of chit fund companies carries advertisements relating to the activities in detail. Sales representatives are showing the newspaper to the rural people and trying to gain their confidence. Further, these newspapers act as a protection shield against any campaign relating to chit fund companies by other newspapers. Involvement of journalists with the chit fund firms through newspaper is a dangerous trend, stated a senior journalist of the state.

Government sources revealed that a group of NGOs is also engaged in chit fund activities. Recently, security personnel sealed the office of an NGO. However, security personnel failed to recover investors’ money. In an effort to curb such fraud schemes, the government has initiated several effective steps. Obviously, the steps are not adequate to control the chit funds. Any one can feel the growing influence of chit funds all over the state.

On the other hand, many people acknowledge that if the state government can properly manage and control chit funds, these firms may play an important role in the financial development of people. A website mentioned that chit funds in Kerala helped people to access credit easily. Even there exists a chit fund called Kerala State Financial Enterprise under the Kerala Government. Although the rate is not alarming, yet misuse of such funds happens. In Tripura, chit funds have yet to play a constructive role. Unless and until people become more conscious about the possibility of financial loss, the problem will persists.

Cane and Able

2010-04-19T11:44:00.001-07:00

Jagmeeta Thind Joy

Handicrafts from the eight northeastern states find pride of place in this fair

If a trip to the northeastern part of the country is not on your travel plans yet, then it is time you made the most of this. The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation, a Government of India enterprise, has set up a North East Crafts Bazaar in Sector 34. The exhibition brings in a range of handicrafts and fabrics culled from the eight northeastern states of the country.

One of the items available in plenty is cane furniture— sofa sets, stools, tables and chairs handmade by artisans from the region. The furniture is priced upwards Rs 500 and the designs range from cutesy round moodas (stools) to lounge chairs.

To give visitors an insight into the art of weaving cane, artisans have been brought along to give live demonstrations. Artists adept at the use of cane and bamboo put together baskets, trays, plant holders, pen stands and even home decor products as visitors admire their skill. Prices are pocket-friendly, starting as low as Rs 30.

When it comes to fabrics, Assam silk is known for its textures and weave patterns. Here, one can choose from the likes of the traditional Mekhla chadar or hand-woven fabrics flaunting tribal designs from Nagaland. There is also a range of woven bedspreads, carpets, Manipur silk and cotton sarees at hand. The products are priced from Rs 200 and beyond.

At the fair, you will also find pretty bags, water bottle holders and even office satchels woven out of jute. But do not be disappointed at the uniform dun colour— the products haven’t been dyed to retain their natural charm. The water bottle holders are priced at Rs 70 while the cane bags are between Rs 150 to 350. Another bestseller are the bouquet of artificial flowers made from dried rose petals, wild mushroom, soft cane, maize corn, field brush grass and soft wood shavings, priced between Rs 5 to Rs 30 for a stem. Also finding space are handloom fabrics, Tanjore paintings, kidswear and pottery from other states.

The exhibition is on till April 27 at Sector 34-A grounds from 10 am to 8 pm.

Child trafficking in North East

2010-04-19T02:55:00.001-07:00

Human trafficking, especially minors is being made easy due to the porous and unmanned international Border along Bangladesh and Nepal which also provides safe corridors to ultras.

‘’Children are easier to smuggle through borders, cheaper and easier to control, which makes them more vulnerable. Further, the unmanned borders along the North East region make it even easier for the traffickers,’’ Hasina Kharbhih, team leader of an NGO Impulse, said, delivering a lecture on Human Trafficking for child labour prostitution in Guwahati, Sunday. The coal mines of Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya alone have engaged an estimated 70,000 child labourers, of which many are trafficked from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, she added, quoting a study done by her NGO, which works primarily in the field of human trafficking.

“The North East is a source, destination and transit region for human trafficking. The highway networks in the region connect many national and international destinations. The destinations are usually New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Kolkata and extend as far as Thailand and Singapore,’’
Kharbhih added. “Child trafficking, be it for forced labour or prostitution, is very much rampant in North East along with the rest of the country.

Within India, there are an estimated 2.3 million women in prostitution, of which nearly six lakh are children,’’ she claimed.

According to UNI, she informed that the NE states were at high risk of trafficking due to displacement from armed conflicts, quoting a report of the International Displacement Monitoring Centre. The report states that over 20,000 people are displaced in Assam, 70,000 in Manipur, 60,000 in Tripura and 3,000 in Arunachal Pradesh. The criminal business of human trafficking generates over 10 billion US dollar a year, making it the third largest ‘’activity’’ after drugs and armament.

Earlier, a two-member team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights was constituted to investigate child trafficking from Manipur to other parts of the country, particularly to Tamil Nadu.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the registrar of the commission, Binod Kumar Sahu and its consultant Ramnath Nayak, visited Chennai to investigate cases of child trafficking from Manipur and Assam to the southern states. On March 31, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice B.S. Chauhan asked the commission to complete the probe in four weeks and submit a report and posted the matter for hearing in May.