Education - A catalyst for social change

The Daily Star

September 20, 2013/Borapansury:

By TRIMITA CHAKMA

I come from the ‘Rangeihoza’ (Range iclan) and ‘bhutergusthi’ (ghost group) of Chakmas, which means my paternal side of the family is a descendant of a ghost. This must sound quite exotic to people who do not belong to the Chakma community. Chakmas comprise of less than 0.3% of Bangladeshi population and mostly live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). My identity struggle as an ethnic minority began at an early age. Unlike many other indigenous kids of CHT, I went to schools in different parts of the country due to the nature of my father’s job. I ended up being the only Chakma kid in my class in every school I went to. I figured I was somewhat different from other children. Usually it was not my behaviour, rather my flat nose and slanted eyes that gave it away. It was easy to stereotype me. Kids would often chant “Chakma! Chakma!” if they saw me pass by. Sometimes I would be asked whether my people ate frogs and snakes, lived naked in the jungle and spoke Chinese language. These things upset me back then. It felt awful to be different and I did not exactly embrace my Chakma identity with glee.

At the UWC AC 10 year reunion in 2012.

Fed up by having to change my school frequently, my parents decided to send me to a boarding school when I was twelve. I ended up going to a girls’ military school. Every year the administration of Mymensingh Girls’ Cadet College selected approximately 50 girls from all over the country based on merit. Traditionally every batch usually had one or two indigenous students and hence I was easily accepted by my schoolmates. I became friends with a bunch of gifted girls from all over Bangladesh, with whom I grew up to discover myself. I soon discovered life was also not easy as a woman in Bangladesh.
I encountered the United World Colleges (UWCs) randomly when one day my father gave me a newspaper-cutting with an advertisement for a high school scholarship in the UK. I had just passed my Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and I was eligible to apply. Soon after I applied I was called for an interview by the Bangladesh National Committee consisting of eminent teachers and business leaders. A few days after my interview I received an offer for a full scholarship to study at United World College of the Atlantic (aka Atlantic College) to pursue my International Baccalaureate Diploma. My family had to bear the costs for air-fare and an annual allowance of 700 pounds. I was the first student to be selected from a Bengali medium school to study at a UWC on scholarship.
In summer 2000, at the age of sixteen, I flew to South Wales to begin a new chapter in my life at Atlantic College. The campus was breathtakingly beautiful. The main building was a 12th century castle overlooking the Bristol Channel. The presidents of Atlantic College were Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan and Queen Elizabeth II of the UK. There were students from over 90 countries  residing on campus. My roommates were from England, Namibia and Germany. There was no school uniform, no punishment system and we were allowed to colour our hair pink, blue or green if we wanted to. I became best friends with a girl from Montenegro and had a crush on a boy from Lithuania, even though I had never heard of their countries before. For the first time in my life, it felt awesome to be different.
Besides the usual academic classes at Atlantic College, I made water rockets out of soda bottles for my science project that flew 30 meters high with a bike pump. I joined the Lifeguard Service for eight hours a week even though I did not know how to swim. I broke three of my front teeth in a cave while training for kayaking. The very next year I became a swimming and kayak instructor and went for a rock-hopping adventure in the sea. In the summer, we wore red shorts like the TV show ‘Baywatch’ and patrolled the beaches in South Wales. In winter, we went to old people’s homes and sang songs for the residents. In my free time, I took black and white photographs with a manual SLR camera and learnt to develop them with chemicals in a dark room underneath the castle. We had esteemed accomplished persons, including Nobel Laureates visiting the campus as speakers every week. I visited Budapest in a student exchange program and stayed there with a Hungarian family to learn about their culture. All these things would be unimaginable in my wildest dreams had I not been given the opportunity for an education at UWC Atlantic College.
The first UWC was founded in 1962 by the German educationalist Kurt Hahn, who envisioned engaging young people from all nations in finding peaceful means to bring together a world divided by political, racial and socio-economic barriers by learning from one another. My education at a UWC not only opened doors to the world’s top universities but also taught me to free myself from prejudices, to respect other cultures, and appreciate diversity – qualities which are essential for creating a more peaceful and sustainable future in today’s globalised world. I was finally able to embrace my multiple identities – as a Chakma, as a woman, as a Bangladeshi and as a global citizen. I believe volunteering is not a favour but rather a job, and that marginalization and oppression can also make us tougher. My global experience at Atlantic college showed me that diversity is beautiful and we can be united in our differences.
After completing my IB Diploma I went to Jacobs University Bremen in Germany to complete my B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and came back home to work for UNDP. In 2008, I was awarded a full scholarship by AusAID to study at the Australian campus of Carnegie Mellon University for pursuing my M.Sc in Information Technology Management. Besides having a successful career in information technology and development, I have been involved in various community services that impact the wider communities I belong to.  It is the UWC spirit and active idealism that motivated me to get involved in advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and women of Bangladesh through campaigns, fundraising activities and research. Due to my commitment to positive social changes, I received the Australian Alumni Excellence Award for Young Alumni and was nominated as an Asia 21 Young Leader in 2012. Most recently I was selected as one of the top 100 youth participants from over 140,000 applicants for a week-long summer school in New York organised by United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and Education First. This gave me the opportunity to network with 99 other motivated youths from all around the world and to discuss pressing global challenges for peace building. We visited the United Nations Head Quarters in New York and were given the opportunity to interact with the Deputy Secretary General, Jan Eliasson as well as other UN officials at a question answer session. Needless to say such experiences are priceless and life-changing.
If the only aim in your life is to become a successful doctor or an engineer you can go to any good school, but if you want to think outside the box, drive a positive social change and touch the lives of others, UWC is the right place for you. As Mahatma Gandhi once said “be the change you wish to see in the world”. A UWC education is the catalyst for becoming that change.

Trimita Chakma is a UWC Atlantic College alumnus(2000-2002). Currently she works at Coffey International Development as Alumni/MIS Manager for AusAID’sAustralia Awards in South Asia.

Read More

Chakma demanding UT from ADC in Mizoram

NENA, March 7-21, 2001/BORAPANSURY :

The Mizoram Chakma Welfare Committee has met Home Minister L K Advani and Law Minister Arun Jaitley to press their demand for creation of a Union Territory for the Chakmas of Mizoram by upgrading the Chakma Autonomous District Council. Stating this, Committee secretary general Surja Sen Chakma accused the Mizoram Government of continuing its policy of systematic discrimination by directing the Food and Civil Supplies Department and NGOs not to issue ration cards or birth certificates to persons not included in the electoral rolls.
"The very fact that the Mizoram Government has abdicated its responsibility to non-State actors proves that these administrative measures are politically motivated to target the Chakmas," he said.
The Chakma representatives also met the secretary general of the National Human Rights Commission and requested the NHRC to ask the State Government to fully comply with its November 1995 directions to issue ration cards to those persons who were in possession of such cards issued earlier by the State.

Read More

The story of a Tribe named 'Chakma'

By Swapnil Patil 15 August 2013 ORIGIN: The Chakma tribal community forms part of the great Tibeto-Burman language family.  In history, Chakma (Sakama in Myanmar) peoples are believed to be  working in Bagan Palace for Bagan King. Bagan King rule Sittagong Hill Tracts, Manipur and Assam. Chakma peoples are living in Rakhine, Sittagong Hill Tracts, Manipur and Assam. They are Tibet-Burma race. Chakma has it own written language and speaking language. Their language was tainted after Brtitish Colony took away from Burma in first Anglo-Burmese war in 1826. PARTITION OF INDIA: INJUSTICE DONE TO THE CHAKMAS During Partition (August 1947), India was divided on the religious line.  Muslim-majority areas went to form Pakistan.  Surprisingly, Chakma-dominated Chittagong Hill Tracts of present day Bangladesh formed part of Pakistan even though Muslims were only meager 2 %.  The Partition axed the Chakma life. It was the doom day. The Chakmas have been patriots.  They fought against the British, and did not allow the conquerors to conquer them.  Following the Partition, they were celebrating the Independence Day on 15 August 1947 by unfurling the Indian tricolour in Rangamati, the main town of CHT.  It was pity that they did not even know they were already Pakistanis, much against their own will. The Pakistani troops pull down the Indian flag. The Chakmas could not give a united stand against the injustice done. Indian government did not do much significant. It failed to recognize  the Chakmas’ contributions and sacrifices during the freedom movement. PERSECUTION UNDER PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH RULE Given the communal division between India and Pakistan, that theBuddhist Chakmas would be persecuted in Muslim Pakistan was a foregone conclusion.  Chakmas were brutally killed, tortured, attacked and their women folk raped under the Pakistan rule.  In 1964, the Kaptai Dam reservoir was built that submerged around 44% of the CHT’s agricultural lands and made tens of thousand Chakmas homeless and foodless.  Those displaced were neither rehabilitated nor compensated nor treated well. Thousands became IDPs and refugees. In 1971, Bangladesh was liberated with India’s help.  But that did not bring any change in the policy of the Muslim government towards the Chakmas.  With active participation of the Bangladesh military, the Chakmas were attacked, massacred, kidnapped, and raped and their houses burned.  There was no reprieve. Life was no longer livable. Hundreds fled from their homes to escape from attempts at their lives.   FROM RULERS TO REFUGEES The Rulers have turned into Refugees, courtesy the brutal policies of the successive governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh.  In 1964, around 30,000 indigenous Chakmas displaced by the Kaptai Hydro-Electric dam in CHT of then East Pakistan migrated to India.  They were given settlement by the government of India in the North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA), the present Arunachal Pradesh, after consultation with the local tribal chiefs.  While being shifted to the NEFA, Government of India issued valid migration certificates to the migrants and assured them of citizenship rights in due course. “They came in a hopeless, pathetic condition, just with the clothes that they wore” recalls one senior Mizoram official, who was part of the Assam government team that received the Chakma in the Cachar and Lushai hills. PRESENT CRISIS ARUNACHAL PRADESH: There are presently about 65,000 Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh.  All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union has been leading a hate-campaign against the Chakmas and inciting the otherwise sympathetic local population to drive the Chakmas away from the state.  Political parties exploit the Chakma issue for electoral gains.  They have been denied basic rights, including ration, education, employment and the right to live and peaceful life with dignity. On 9 January 1996, Supreme Court of India directed, inter alia, that the life and personal liberty of each and every Chakma residing within the State shall be protected and that, except in accordance with law the Chakmas shall not be evicted from their homes.  The Delhi High Court in its judgment of 28 September 2000 (CPR no. 886 of 2000) directed the authorities to enroll all eligible Chakma and Hajong voters into the electoral rolls. But the State Government and its agencies including the State Election Commission failed to do anything significant !!! MIZORAM: There are about 100,000 Chakmas in Mizoram.  They gained the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in 1972, which is still resented by the Mizo political leaders.  But the District Council covers only one-third of the Chakma population in the state.  The Chakmas living outside the District Council (including Sajek Valley area) are subject to regular harassment and discrimination by the State government in various forms.Life is no less painful in Sajek area of Mizoram.  The Chakmas have been living in acute poverty and without access to basic healthcare, education and infrastructure such as roads, electricity connectivity.    Most Chakma household is engaged in traditional Jhum cultivation.  Chakmas also call it “Duk Haam”, meaning “hard task”. As forest cover is diminished and production scanty, another name for life has become “struggle for survival”. Due to hate-campaign being carried out by powerful non-state actors such Young Mizo Association, rights of the Chakma people are under threat. Hundreds have already been deleted from voters list arbitrarily.  SITUATION OF CHAKMAS IN BANGLADESH The Chakmas have been reduced to minority in their own homeland due to illegal implantation of thousands of plains settlers i.e. Muslims.  Although a peace accord was signed between the Chakma rebels and the Government of Bangladesh in 1997, peace and development have been elusive in the Chittagong hills.  Besides persecution by the Bangladesh government, the Chakmas themselves are divided into two main groups and killing each other.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional :: Not so imp ....still !

Original article: http://swapsushias.blogspot.in/2013/08/the-story-of-tribe-named-chakma.html#.U14mOqiSxcJ

Read More

Chakma - An Unfortunate Tribe

By SUPAM B. CHAKMA
21 September 2013 :

I belong to the Chakma community, which is one of the most unfortunate communities ever to exist in this world. Although many individuals are being established themselves to their economic position to fulfil their life’s' needs and necessities, on the other sides there are infinite numbers of Chakma population who are struggling to survive and feed even one single meal. They are fighting to earn a little piece of edible item to fulfill the need of their stomachs.

In India, the Chakma community is considered as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), enacted by the Constitution of India. They live mainly in the three Northeast Indian states, which are – Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura, and they follow Buddhism as their religion. Among these three states the social and economic situation of the Chakma people is worst in Arunachal Pradesh affected by the local political and communal groups of that state. Meanwhile, in the remaining two states Mizoram and Tripura, the Chakmas are living much peacefully and well established than those living in Arunachal Pradesh.

But again, the majority population of the Chakmas are settled in the neighbouring South Asian country Bangladesh with an approximate population between 374,000 – 404,000. In fact, nonetheless they are living in hellish situation due to several political and social pressures from the local people.

Challenges for the Chakmas

Let me discuss in simple words the problems faced by the Chakmas in their respective locations.

Arunachal Pradesh: Most unfortunate of all the Chakmas are those who have been forced to migrate from other locations to Arunachal Pradesh. It has a deep historical background which takes it back to the year 1964. In this year, during the construction of the Kaptai hydroelectric dam project on the river Karnaphuli, a serious communal riot broke between the local Muslim inhabitants and the Chakmas. Then the Chakmas were bound to migrate and move to neighbouring places, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. During that time Arunachal Pradesh was considered as the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). On one side, fortunately the Government of India helped them to take an immediate necessary shelter on humanitarian grounds. Under NEFA the main locations where the Chakmas spread were Changlang, Lohit and Subansiri (presently Papum Pare). On the unfortunate side, the local indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh started to protest over the legal citizenship of the Chakmas which till now has not been resolved yet. It has become a particular human rights issue in terms of citizenship. Even by today, the Chakmas in this state are struggling to get their rights to be considered as Indians either by documents or by social acceptances.

Mizoram: This state is majorly owned by the Mizos or locally known as Lushai tribe and they comprise the largest tribe in population. Under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India, Chakma Autonomous District Council was formed on 29th April 1972. The Chakmas have the power to run the district autonomously and select their political representatives on their own terms. Economically the Chakmas have established themselves except in some few backward regions such as Borapansury, Devasora, Lokhisury etc. Sorrowfully, even there are some Chakma population in Sajek area which is located near the Mizoram border with Tripura and Bangladesh, where they are living the worst part of a life. These people are illiterate and don’t get the opportunity to join school for education. In fact, they have to walk 10-15 kilometres distance to bring the home cooking items such as salt, mustard oil, vegetables, matchbox, kerosene oil etc., which are required regularly for preparing food to live. Can you imagine yourself to live such a tragic life?

Tripura: Tripura is the third state where the Chakmas have legally owned their lands. In terms of majority, Debbarma are the largest tribal group in Tripura. But it is politically being dominated by Bengalis. Economically and socially the Chakmas are well established. But it does not mean there are no or less numbers of poor people in this state. There are several backward places in Tripura where the Chakmas are living in the same condition as in Sajek area of Mizoram. One important fact, the Chakmas have to compromise themselves between the local Bengalis and Tripuris (Kokborok language speaking people such as Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Rupini, Uchoi, Reang and many more) in order to survive in the region. They cannot interfere and show partiality to any of these two separate groups. And this is a challenge for the Chakmas.

Lastly, in Bangladesh those Chakmas who have remained unmoved despite the communal riot took place in 1964, they are settled in the region known as Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). They are the majority in numbers among all the other tribes in this particular region. Bangladesh is originally an Islamic religious country where there are also a few groups of Bengalis, and Barua caste. The major challenge being faced by the Chakmas in Bangladesh is over the ownership of the CHT region where many other outsider Bengalis started to migrate recently. They have become the hurdle for the survival of the Chakmas, and frequently communal violence and attacks take place between them. This has become an international human rights issue but sadly so far no any support or sympathy has been provided by any human rights body.

The most horrific circumstances happen when the Chakmas are considered as refugees by others. This creates a sense of low self-feeling within oneself and causes embarrassment in several occasions in front of the public.

At this moment, we, the Chakmas can only HOPE for a better future and a better land to live in the coming days.

Read More

Misplaced blame: The state governments from the region are to be blamed

By ROMESH BHATTACHARJI THE HINDU I FRONTLINE Aug. 11-24, 2012/BORAPANSURY, April 28 : The region suffers not from neglect by the Centre, but from corruption and mishandling by the State governments concerned.

BIJU BORO/AFP 

In the flood-affected Mayong village in Morigaon district, some 80 km from Guwahati, on June 28. While urban Assam looks prosperous, the rural areas remain neglected.

EVERY time there is a flood or a scam or turmoil in north-eastern India, the first reaction of the media and politicians from the region is to blame the Centre for failing to understand the problems peculiar to the region. But the truth is that for more than a decade, this has not been the case. Many people from the region say the Centre’s neglect has decisively ended, even if the prejudices that they are subject to in other parts of the country have not. Neglect in the matter of developmental measures is an accusation from the past. For the present neglect, the State governments from the region are to be blamed. Let us take Kokrajhar, the place of the recent mayhem, for instance. I first visited it 27 years ago. It was then a small, sleepy town with ramshackle shops and houses and a railway station built during colonial times in Assamese architectural style using clay and wattle. Today it is a busy station with multiple tracks, large platforms with roofs and numerous trains stopping by. The town has hideous-looking concrete buildings all over – indicative of the prosperity of many of its citizens now.

With the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) functioning since December 2003, several flyovers and hospitals have been built and many development schemes are in place. The circular BTC Secretariat in Kokrajhar looks impressive and has a covered corridor that connects it to an even larger building.

There is scope for more prosperity though chances of its fair distribution are still far away. Roads have improved and embankments have been strengthened. The Gaurang river has a new bridge. Even the Thana Kalibari temple in Kokrajhar and the Guru Tegh Bahadur gurudwara (established in the early 17th century by the Ninth Guru) in Dhubri reflect new-found prosperity. Earlier they were much humbler and shaky structures, though attractive. Small places like Fakiragram have vastly improved medical and educational facilities. There are colleges and schools all over Bodoland. Gauhati University has a campus in Kokrajhar, the credit for which goes to the now-fractured BTC.

National Highway 31 from Guwahati to Dhubri is being converted into a four-lane expressway. There is a huge rail-cum-road bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra from near Bilasipara on the North Bank to Goalpara on the South. There are railway tracks on both sides of the Brahmaputra. The funds for all these projects had come from the Central government. Many Bodos are employed with the government or have opened businesses, leaving their fields to be tilled by Bangladeshi migrants, who are now considered the reason for the present discontent. Sadly, the rural areas remain neglected.

All over urban Assam, one can feel a refreshing vibrancy – an energy that was not noticeable a decade ago when the State was recovering from insurgency and the lahe lahe (slowly) mentality. More than 10,000 primary school teachers were recruited in July as soon as the Supreme Court lifted a High Court-imposed ban; another 80,000 are to be recruited. Ambulances reach the remotest villages at the earliest possible time. Mobile phone networks cover 80 per cent of the State. Large projects such as the Dibrugarh Cracker Plant and the Boghibeel bridge over the Brahmaputra may be completed earlier than anticipated despite their slow start. Agriculture, too, is getting some belated attention.

All across the north-eastern region, there is comparable development in sectors such as agriculture, education, health and even industry. Seventeen years ago, we drove from Lungwa, which sits astride the India-Myanmar border, carrying the injured driver of a bulldozer that had fallen over a cliff to the then miserable and filthy District Hospital in Mon, Nagaland. The hospital was symbolic of the all-pervading neglect of the region in those years. Not only has the hospital changed for the better but each of Mon’s 16 circles has a functioning health centre. In Arunachal Pradesh, medical facilities are reaching the farthest circles like never before.

RITU RAJ KONWAR 

The site of NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower project in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the Assam border. A file picture. Large hydel projects can end the severe power shortage in the north-eastern States.

The north-eastern region exports broccoli, kiwi fruit, pineapple, cashewnut, strawberries and flowers. It even hopes to send rice to markets across the country soon. Private as well as government schools are opening all over the region.

Several hydel projects, large and small, funded by the Centre, have come up. In Meghalaya, the first phase of the 190 MW Myntdu-Leshka hydel project was made operational recently. In Mizoram, the 60 MW Tuirial hydel project is expected to start functioning next year and bring an end to the State’s power deficit. In Arunachal Pradesh, many small hydel projects are under various stages of completion. Many of these projects are being executed by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (Neepco), which inevitably subcontracts some stages of the work to companies outside the region. The large hydel projects of Arunachal Pradesh are unfortunately being delayed by a few rabble-rousing non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In Kiphire, Nagaland, the 150 MW Tizu-Zingki Basin hydel project is being revived after 32 years of public protests.

In January this year, I travelled to Upper Assam and the North Bank, where everyone I spoke to was in favour of these large hydel projects. The projects are the only way Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland can end six to 12 hours of power cut every day. A lecturer in Gohpur suggested to this writer that the new airport in Hollongi (Naharlagun) in Central Arunachal Pradesh ought to be large enough to handle aircraft that can ferry the large machinery required for these projects; this will help avoid the roads that troublemakers in Assam have closed to traffic.

There is neglect from within the States, both financial and political. Towns may be prosperous, but villages certainly are not. Most reel from lack of development. Every year crores of rupees in aid lapses because it is not spent. By the end of the last financial year, Rs.730.064 crore remained unspent by all the departments under the Assam government. The remote and backward regions of Assam had an allocation of Rs.929.94 crore, of which Rs.586.95 crore was not spent. (See table for figures from four of the 11 backward districts in Assam.)

The lack of utilisation of funds by elected representatives is shocking. Amongst the sitting MPs and MLAs from Assam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has the highest utilisation record. He has spent 97.23 per cent of the Rs.30.05 crore released to him; others do not come anywhere near him. The next highest utilisation, of 82 per cent, was by Nazneen Faruque, a Rajya Sabha member.

Yet, despite evidence to the contrary, accusations of utter neglect by the Centre keep recurring. This refrain was heard recently after the floods in Assam even though the Centre immediately sanctioned an ad hoc grant of Rs.500 crore.

In the floods of the past four years, about 500,000 hectares of land has been eroded and close to a million people have been impoverished by the loss of land. Every year, huge grants are made for flood relief, but these do not reach the people. Floods allegedly are festival time for the State government and the NGOs dealing in flood relief. The money received is lavishly spent for other purposes.

Manipur is the only State that can be called neglected. Yet, the Centre can only be accused of not ensuring that the funds are well spent. This is a State where diversion of government funds is rampant. Petrol is sold at Rs.100 a litre here, yet every petrol station has a long line of scooters and cars waiting to fill fuel. For a State with very limited means of income generation, where is this money coming from? Corruption.

Tripura is the only State where there is no governmental indifference towards one community or preference for another.

If there is lack of development in many sectors in the north-eastern region, the cause is from within. Also, there is prejudice, enmity and suspicion amongst communities. 

Source: MCDF/ Borapansury PHC

Borapansury village, about 120 kilometres from Aizawl, Mizoram, is home to about 10,000 Chakmas. For the past 20 years, they have been demanding in vain the reopening of the primary health centre in the area.

Villages all over the north-eastern region are generally in a pitiable condition, especially if they are not on the main roads. The projects planned by the States for them remain on paper for a long time, while funds get whittled away.

Many people in the region resent the silence of the Centre towards their humanitarian problems and the indifference and prejudices of the rest of the country towards them. No north-easterner can have a tension-free visit to at least the north of India because of the deep-rooted prejudices.

Armed forces can and still barge into any house in the region and pick up anyone they want for investigation or harassment. This is one vexing issue that will remain until the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is withdrawn.

Romesh Bhattacharji, former Chief Commissioner of Customs, is a freelance writer based in New Delhi.

Read More

Film on Naga music on international fests

GUWAHATI, 27 April/BORAPANSURY :

“Songs of the Blue Hills”, a feature-length documentary film on contemporary Naga folk music directed by National Award-winning film critic and filmmaker Utpal Borpujari, has created a splash by getting selected to five international film festivals at one go. 

The 96-minute film, that features a number of veteran Naga folk music exponents as well as younger practitioners, has been invited to the Doc Outlook International Market of the Visions du Reel Film Festival (Nyon, Switzerland), Gothenburg Independent Film Festival (Sweden), New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), Eyes & Lenses Ethnographic Film Festival (Warsaw, Poland) and the World Music & Independent Film Festival (Washington). 

Produced by Girish Joshi for the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Union Ministry of Culture, the film is in the competition sections of the festivals at Gothenburg and Washington. 

The film features some fascinating music as well as dialogue with musicians like veteran Ao folk singers Sademmeren Longkumer and A. Bendangyanger Tsuwar Jamir, Chakhesang folk veteran Zachunu Keyho, classical pianist Nise Meruno, and groups like the Tetseo Sisters, the Nagaland Singing Ambassadors, the Chancel Choir, Ru’a, Üsou’s Instrumental, Abiogenesis, Nagagenous, Baptist Youth Choir Poilwa Village and Purple Fusion. 

In addition, experts such as Dr A Lanunugsang, Lipokmar Tzudir, Gugs Chishi, Theja Meru, Vivee Peseye, Som Kamei, Zubeno Mozhui and Dr Abraham Lotha have shared their views on the changing face of Naga music in recent times. 

Shot extensively across Nagaland, the film’s crew comprised Biswajeet Changmai (cinematography), Debajit Gayan (sound), Umesh Kumar (Editor), Atanu Phukan (research & coordination), Aiyushman Dutta (research & art direction). 

“The selections mean that the rich tapestry of the various Naga tribes would get showcased through the film in across several countries. I feel this is just the beginning of the journey for this film, and I am sure it would act as a tool to attract tourists to Nagaland apart from introducing the world to a wide variety of Naga music,” said Borpujari. 

“Songs of the Blue Hills” comes after Borpujari’s previous documentary “Mayong: Myth/Reality” got screened at several international film festivals and a nationwide DVD release through Junglee Home Video label.

Read More

Mizoram Armed Police condemned

GUWAHATI, 27 April/BORAPANSURY : 

The Village Authority Union of Tipaimukh sub-division, Churachandpur, Manipur, in its press release dated April 26 condemns the dastardly acts of personnel of Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) against the innocent villagers of Parvachawm and Lungthulien on two occasions this year.

The Union alleged that Mizoram police personnel, along with arms and ammunition raided Parvachawm village earlier this year on February 19, heinously checked into houses of innocent civilians including the house of the village Chief Malsawm during the wee hours breaking doors and windows, and damaging rice and other household commodities. A good number of innocent villagers were also assaulted and left seriously injured by the Mizoram Police, the release alleged.

The second raid took place when a group of fully armed Mizoram Police personnel crossed over Manipur border unauthorized and entered Lungthulien village, 10 km away from the Parbung sub-divisional headquarter during the wee hours of April 22, the Union alleged. The house of Ralkapthuom, Chairman of the Village Authority was raided by the Mizoram personnel.

The Union further alleged, as no persons were staying in the house during the night, the lock was broken from outside and the MAP personnel intruded into the house and damaged household articles including wooden boxes and stole money amounting to  Rs. 3,555 claimed to be a church fund. Not only this, one Lalpiengruol s/o Lalsiem Sanate, an innocent villager, was frisked away by the Mizoram Police across the border and beaten up badly and later released. Lalpiengruol is said to be undergoing medical treatment as he was badly injured.

The VA Union termed the illegal raiding of the Tipaimukh villages as serious infringement of the law of the land and while condemning the dastardly acts of the MAP personnel in strongest terms, urged the Manipur Government to take necessary steps to stop such illegal intrusion​s from across the State in the future.

Meanwhile, the General Headquarters of the Hmar Students Association, also condemned the heinous act of Mizoram police in Tipaimukh area.

Read More

Huge flow of funds to fight against narcotics trade in NE

NEW DELHI, April 26/ GUWAHATI/ BORAPANSURY: 

In what seems like a cohesive approach being adopted by the Union Home Ministry, more and more funds are being pumped into the north–eastern States to fight the growing narcotics market. Funds were released to the north–eastern States for different kind of anti–narcotics operations over the last few years..

As per statistics available with the Union Home Ministry, Mizoram was provided with the second largest amount of funds after Kerala for anti–narcotics operations. An amount of Rs. 30,51,689 was provided to Mizoram in 2012–13 against Kerala’s Rs. 33,55,507 in the same year. Mizoram was provided with Rs. 22,68,475 in 2011–12. Nagaland was also provided with an amount of Rs. 23,07,450 in 2012–13 to intensify anti–narcotics operations.

Interestingly Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were also provided with such Central funds to initiate anti–narcotics operations. Assam was provided with an amount of Rs. 29,20,936 in 2010–11 whereas Arunachal Pradesh was provided with an amount of Rs. 23,25,000 to fight narcotics in the same year.

“Mizoram has become the transit route for the entry of narcotics into the rest of the country. The involvement of underground groups in this flourishing business has led to further deterioration of the situation,” a senior government official said.

Read More

New government to take call on language and ST status for NE communities

NEW DELHI, April 26/GUWAHATI/BORAPANSURY: 

A final call on the inclusion of as many as seven languages of the Northeast into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian constitution and ST status to six communities of Assam is likely to be taken after the formation of the new government at the Centre.

A senior government official engaged with issues related to the north–eastern States told this correspondent that both matters are under the consideration of the government. “But a final decision will be taken only by the new government,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

At present there are demands for inclusion of 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Home Ministry has received demands for inclusion of seven north–eastern languages, which includes Kamtapuri, Karbi, Khasi, Kokborok, Lepcha, Limbu and Mizo (Lusai), under the Eighth Schedule.

An internal inter–ministerial committee was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to make an in–depth study of the entire issue, including recommendations of the Sitakant Mohapatra Committee to suggest a set of uniform criteria with regards to extent of development of a language, its usage, etc. “This may pave the way for deciding inclusion or otherwise of a language in the Eighth Schedule. The matter is under consideration of the Government,” the official said.

Communities like the Mora, Motok, Koch–Rajbongshi, Tai–Ahom and tea tribes in Assam have been demanding ST status. As per Article 342 of the Constitution, communities are notified as Scheduled Tribes if they have five basic characteristics, which include primitive traits, geographical isolation, distinct culture, shyness of contact with community at large and economic backwardness.

Read More

Union Govt to nurture talented youths in sports though DLSS

SHILLONG, April 25/BORAPANSURY, April 26 : 

To nurture talented youths, the union government has proposed to set up District Level Sports Schools (DLSS) in every district in the country including the north eastern states.
Joint Secretary (Development) Departments of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr GSG Ayyangar, said, “Under the scheme for identifying and nurturing sports talents, district level sports schools have been proposed in every district in the country in the next ten years”.

Read More

N Korea ‘probably’ preparing nuclear test

SEOUL/SHILLONG/BORAPANSURY : North Korea appears to be making preparations to conduct its fourth nuclear test, a US think-tank said on Friday just hours before President Barack Obama arrives in South Korea for a visit.
New satellite images, taken just two days ago, showed additional activity at the Punggye-ri test site that is “probably related to preparations for a detonation,” the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said.
The report echoed recent warnings from South Korea that the North might be planning a test to coincide with Obama’s two-day visit. Analysis suggested increased movement of vehicles and materials near what are believed to be the entrances to two completed test tunnels, the institute said on its closely followed 38 North website.
Also visible were probable command and control vehicles intended to provide secure communications between the test site and other facilities.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. The 38 North analysis noted that preparations for the test in February last year had peaked two or three days before detonation.
The withdrawal of all equipment, vehicles and personnel had occurred immediately before the blast. “Whether North Korea will follow the same timeline in 2014 remains unclear,” it said. (AFP)

Read More

Mizoram to get its first Medical College soon

SHILLONG/AIZAWL/BORAPANSURY, 26 April : 

A 100-seat medical college will come up soon in the northeastern state of Mizoram, an official said here Saturday.

“Mizoram government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the union health ministry recently to set up the first ever medical college in the state,” a Mizoram health department official told reporters.

He said the proposed medical college would be on the lines of the 300-bed Mizoram civil hospital here. The civil hospital was set up in 1896 with a bed strength of 12.

“A project of Rs.45 crore has been finalised to set up the medical college and upgrade the Mizoram civil hospital,” said the official.

Efforts are also underway to establish a tertiary cancer care centre in Zemabawk area on the outskirts of Aizawl city, the official added.

Currently there are five medical colleges in Assam followed by two each in Tripura and Manipur besides a postgraduate medical institute in Meghalaya in the northeastern region. (IANS)

Read More