The indifferences are many but we cannot give up easily, cannot get discouraged. We can talk with one another, share ideas and ultimately find out means and ways to resolve things together. To add, it’s still not a hopeless situation because there are many who are struggling to provide a social change in the state at every possible realm. There are people who are really concerned about what is happening around in the state. People who strive to make others’ live better. People who have struggled with the near 20 hour/day electric load shedding and kept on with their zeal for life by not bowing down to diktats or social censure. People who have battled various extreme odds to be pioneers in their fields and people who give hope in the midst of despair. These are people who have lots of ideas and their ideas if once become contagious among the mass-es can be counted on to bring a change in the sta-te. Change is desperately sought in the state, am-ong our people. To bring this change, ideas should be continuously spread among the masses. Ideas are considered the most expensive of all possessions one ever has. Unique ideas can influence lives and encourage individuals to say no to a wretched life as much as powerful ideas can add sparks in the lives of many fuelling up incredible changes.

As far as Manipur is concerned, familiarizing with the issues or in other words finding out the real problems would be the first ever step to bid adieu to all the indifferences prevailing in the society. One of the probable reasons on why the problems in Manipur have become deep rooted is a shallow understanding of issues or should I be more precise considering it the lack of ideas? Bad ideas can prompt a negative resolution; while good ideas can instigate a positive revolution which is driven by a common goal and which aims to bring an agreeable change in the society. And this change is going to mean a lot for each one of us.

Mainly focussed on the issues that are prevailing in the state, TEDx where x= independently organized event is going to be held in Manipur on 11th December, 2011. TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission- Ideas worth spreading. The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

TEDx Imphal is themed on ‘Winds of Change’. This unique event will have some speakers giving their talk in Manipuri. This will make Manipuri the fifth language from India at a TEDx event after Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Rajasthani. The event is in pursuit of change which is badly sought by each one of us. In order to create a better future, we have to leverage ideas, technologies, design and education. TEDx is the right opportunity for us to instigate a change. TEDx event is not hosted for political reasons, monetary reward or personal gain. The event organisers truly believe in the power of ideas to change the world starting from our society.

For those who believe in bringing together individuals who want to be change agents surrounding remarkable thinking and out of the box ideas, this event is going to incredibly change their lives. As mentioned earlier, unique Ideas are always worth sharing and should also be contagious among the masses. If you believe in the power of ideas and if you believe in innovation that may shape people’s lives forever, this event is the right platform for you. All in all, if you truly believe in ideas that are worth spreading and ideas that should be transmittable, TEDx is the event which is going to create history in the state and also among the North Eastern States of the Nation.

Due to license restrictions, TEDx cannot accommodate more than 100 audiences but it doesn’t mean the rest of Manipuris cannot have a TED experience. Various artists and visionaries from the state can reach out to a wider audience on online media through TEDx. The performing artists of the event include Imphal Talkies N the Howlers and Guru Rewben Mashangva, a performer, songwriter, and music researcher who is hailed in the Northeast as ‘The King of Naga Folk Blues’. The event will be mainly sponsored by E-Pao, Venue Sponsor by The Classic Hotel, Video Recording Partner Mayum Media & Communications.

It is true that nostalgia is a chronic disease that each one of us is equally infected with. We miss our homes, our people. We love talking about good old childhood days, those local games, those fun-filled school days, festivals and what not. The smell of u-morok that triggers our appetite simultaneously makes us miss home badly. And if we are lucky enough to relish dishes like chagempomba or tharoi thongba, we fondly tell one another ‘Yumgi insaang yam maandra?’ This is the norm; this is the contagious homesickness that all of us mutually share. And that’s all that we got to amiably talk about Manipur.

The rest as we all know is history in the making in which we are directly and indirectly involved. 100 plus days of economic blockade, woes of people on price rise, the communal malice, the shattered emotions of this and that community—these issues are more than enough to make us all pissed off during our weekend together. We would debate with one another, give our personal opinions, sometimes indulge in quarrels to prove our opinions more noteworthy… but at the end of each and every Manipur-centric discussion, we find ourselves a little annoyed or disturbed. Debates could take the shape of anything. What bothers us most is who is going to preside on our debates? Who is going to listen to our grievances? Who is going to be accountable for what is happening in the State?

The best solution sometimes seems avoiding the discussions on Manipur with a pledge not to start it ever again. But that is next to impossible. We know we will keep talking about Manipur. We will keep quarrelling on issues that affect our people, though it is a different cup of tea whether our people know consciously if they are affected or not?

To a lot of Manipuris who are home based, it would not make an iota of sense staying miles away from the State and talking or discussing on issues that are faced by them back home. Well, the reason that we don’t stay in Manipur doesn’t mean we are less concerned. I doubt if maximum numbers of the Manipuris in Manipur are indeed bothered about the issues at all? If yes, then how? They do not protest, they do not raise their voices on the price rise. Come what may, they are ready to celebrate any festival with great pomp and show. If cooking gas is sold at Rs 2,000, they have alternative means of cooking meals. Instead of protesting or resorting to collectively act or react, they enjoy sober meals and stay quietly within their homes watching ISTV news or watching movies (if it is not a load shedding day). If there is any probable bandh, they get damn excited because another ‘chaak chanaba’ is on its way. Who cares about the economic blockade when one can afford a sumptuous nganu-thongba and yeah some booze (local or imported ones). The day will pass on merrily with some friends and that is more important. Let the problems burgeon day by day who gives a damn? Let an invisible virtual crusader descend on earth from ‘atiya’ and fight on their behalf. Meanwhile, enjoy the boozes, enjoy the delicacies!

All of us are either too cynical or indifferent and there lies one of the starting points of all the problems. It is DISGUSTING to know that political consciousness is a pale joke among the maximum population. I am sorry to say so but our people seem to be pretty OK with what is happening in the State. I do feel that we the outsourced lots are unnecessarily worried and concerned about the situations back there. No one complains, no one cares and everyone supports the situations instead of figuring out doable means and probable measures to solve it together.

Manipur is a living hell, Manipur is a failed State, Manipur is this, and Manipur is that. Everyone loves pointing fingers; no one is ready to lend a helping hand to resolve the problems. It is like ‘People, people everywhere, not anyone to act’. How long will this happen? How long will it take for our people to wake up from the slumber? “FRANKLY, My Dear, we don’t know because we don’t give a damn” would be a probable answer from our fellow Manipuris, the incorrigibly inscrutable race. Oh! Poor Change, it seems it will take years for you to make your presence in the State. Why don’t you plan a world tour first? Manipur will keep waiting for you till forever comes. Ciao!

PS – I do not have any slightest intention to hurt the sentiment of my people. It’s just that I want them to be a little sensible before it’s too late. I also don’t put myself in the shoes of any Vendetta who is trying to reform the society. I am in fact no one to talk about change or reformation. I am just a mere individual struggling for survival and sustenance in a metropolitan city. But trust me; I would love to be proved wrong on my above views.

For many, I know that it would sound boring (not challenging) and the obvious ‘oiroidaba, kaanaroidaba’ reactions may strike the chord of most of their unused brains. That is very natural. Cynicism has always been an achievement amongst us. We are very much prone to negativism. But if you dare (yes I said DARE) to break that cocoon of cynicism and at least lend a helping hand to reconstruct and reform our society, trust me you would forever feel proud to tag yourself a Manipuri. A change is desperately sought in our State. If this change doesn’t happen, let us happily share a ‘paangdaba’ as a suffix or prefix with our names. Let us also sell our self-respect and morale at the keithel at a price much cheaper than onion or potatoes. If we want to win the battle, we have to fight at the cost of anything. Superheroes are mythological, they suit better only in comics and will never ever turn up to fight on our behalf. Let us get real, let us get acquainted with the issues and find means to let the wind of change blow in Kangleipaak.

If you are still cynical and not yet ready for this change, you need not waste your time reading this article to the end. Give up, and tag yourself a loser and go to hell. For those who believe in change and are ready to be a meaningful part of it let us share this affinity, find means to connect one another and YES, voice our grievances together. Enough is enough! Let us stop being a prey of mindless politics, let us also stop playing the blame-games. Let us together sow the seed of ‘Change’ for a better Manipur.

The Assembly Elections 2012 is knocking on the door. It is a decisive time when we will get the opportunity to make our representatives accountable for the nature of our collective life that we lead in Manipur. It is the right time to raise our voices to fight for our well being and dignity. It is the right time to spread awareness in our families, leikais and kendras, and not to get carried away by the buttered talks of candidates or political parties—not to buy their votes and not to support proxy voting. Our issues should also be their issues, if not then they should not contest for the elections. I know it sounds challenging to generate awareness amongst the hoi polloi. But need we worry when there are various means to do so? Music is a lingua franca that connects all of us across the world. Why not use it as a principle means to sow the seed of change in our State? We have a good taste of music. Why don’t we fine-tune this taste and spread awareness amongst ourselves to bring a change in our society? In Manipur, for all these years, rock music has always been misconstrued and tagged with drug and sex. Let us evolve ourselves from that mentality. Let it be rock, let it be pop, let it be any genre—why don’t we make music a common thread to connect and reconnect with one another?

Vote for Change : A rock concert is on its way this 10th November. If you think it’s just another musical concert, you are hopelessly WRONG. Starting with this event, if we make the most of concerts like this, themed on a common cause, the push-button to take our common cause to the next level is as easy as learning ABC. Phoenix, Brothers featuring Jagdish, Fringes, The Dirty Strike, The Wishess featuring Basav Dutta etc are the performing bands of this musical solidarity show.

If you abhor violence, if you detest bomb blasts and killing of innocents, if you hate callous politics and economic blockades in the State—SPEAK OUT, BE A PA-RT OF THE CHANGE. Let us work it out together. We can start dreaming of a better Manipur without the bl-oodsheds, without the hatred, without the mindlessness amongst politicians. We just need to unite and create a common cause. Let us make a collective pledge to avoid leading wretched lives, let us also make this rock concert a means to voice our grievances. Come be a part of the change, be a part of the musical solidarity. Cheers!

All is not well at all. It has been a continuous sequence of pestering and perturbing experience to read news and views on the current issues in Manipur that are without any solution. No matter one is confined in the home State or not, the concern remains the same. We all love to go through pleasing news and encouraging stories as far as the home-State is related which have become missing columns on most of the news-sites and dailies that are accessible through internet.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and it won’t be long before the months turn into a year but no change has been ever observed so far and no change can yet be anticipated. The ‘Assurance-theory’ seems to have successfully failed again and most of the plans are almost getting foiled and flopped. Nevertheless, people need not worry because the Government will further work on more ‘assurance theories’ after all that’s the only thing they are good at.

It is at times a clear-doubt or a puzzle for me how the Government keeps it’s cool at such intense situations. No matter how many Bandhs or General Strikes that different groups call for, no matter how sky-rocketed the prices of daily commodities are, it is ‘paangkhokla eshing chaiba’ effort from the public’s side since none of the issues are ever resolved.

Nonetheless, we should still be hopeful right? We cannot be too pessimistic especially when some fleeting impractical solutions are probably on the way. YES! The elections are around. And when elections come, can fake-agendas be far behind? At a time when the whole State is burning and equally suffering amidst chaos and unexpected hoo-hahs, the upcoming election is perhaps going to be a pseudo-respite for people or at least I mistakenly think so? It would be a tricky situation for the ruling Government to act or react on any burning issue as they are prone to be severely criticised by the Opposition party. But yes, they will tackle things tactfully with the same old tactics. By the way, I believe campaigns have already been started. Many promises will be refreshed, many agendas will be framed and many social works can also be expected at each and every leikai. Local feasts will be plenty in number funded by the political candidates. Some families will also get monetary assistance personally funded by the same candidates. The love, care, affection and concern that have never been shown for all these years will suddenly outburst because it is campaign time and winning their love and affection is the primary agenda for them.

Ever wonder how open bribery is warmly accepted in our home State? Needless to mention that when it’s free anyone doesn’t mind having it (money). It is an open secret that Democracy is an honest joke as far as Manipur is concerned. It has always been Government off the people, bye (the) people, not for the people. The comical paradox however is that people are aware about it. They know the wrongs and the rights equally and yet they become easy prey to the pseudo-promises of undeserving political leaders that are refreshed during every election time. My earnest consideration therefore is that people need not complain at all when they are the ones who are solely responsible for bribery much before the political leaders come into power. It’s not just a vote that is sold away; it’s the self-respect that is being openly sold. It is all in all kind of dukandari system– give money and buy the vote—that’s it? If such is the norm that has been followed for all these years, why the heck should they complain about problems that rise later? Let the mushrooming number of problems burgeon, who cares? On a very personal note, I am honestly glad that I have never ever voted even once for any of the election campaigns held in our Kendra. I am not against plebiscite system in Manipur but I am totally against the misconstrued understanding and practice of election. If election is all about selling your self-respect just for the sake of some free money, I would never ever do that. If election is all about choosing a wrong candidate who cannot represent the collective voice or grievances of people, EXCUSE ME because my vote is really precious, what about yours?

One of the endearing aspects of social networking through Facebook is the narrowing communication gap amongst people from all walks of life. The kid from your leikai whose swasti puja you once attended sends you a friend request, that boring guy/girl from the next leikai suddenly sounds the most interesting person you have ever met and what’s more, your very cousin or sibling prefers to write on your wall or pass comments on your posts instead of talking over the phone. Needless to be surprised, with more than 800 million active users across the world, Facebook is perhaps the mother of all the social networking sites ever introduced on the worldwide web. It would not be a surprising factor to know that Facebook is more than a mere site through which one networks with friends and acquaintances. From breaking news to broken relationships, from the latest fad in town to the most conventional discussions, the site is one of the in-demand places on the ‘www’ where everyone loves to spend a good time either connecting to new friends or reconnecting with long lost old friends or acquaintances.

If you have lately missed watching television or reading books of your interest, you need not worry at all because you have been spending a pretty good time on Facebook? Reading and commenting on interesting posts from various friends, watching hilarious videos and yes accessing minute by minute news updates on any issue.

One of the hilarious updates ever read on the site was ‘Manipurda Yu-haar haarey hujik’. One would bother less about how his/her family or near and dear ones during the earthquake, but YES it’s very important to share that breaking news with friends on Facebook. Now isn’t that a magical effect of Facebook? Like an outsized yet flamboyant umbrella that shelters all and sundry, everyone stands under it waiting for some fresh updates with ‘like’ buttons ready to click anytime.

On the funny side of the site, it is sometimes weird to find out that there are some face-bookers who are either busy creating fake accounts or trying out different means to hack others’ existing account. Uncanny though they sound to us, that is their ideal manner of social networking. So, can any of us dare to blame them or call them names? Forget it! We should be glad of this very fact that we can make thousands of friends and at the same time block or report abuse hundreds of them. We have a liberal choice that is not even provided by the State or country to use the right buttons through which we can balance or justify anything or everything that is happening around.

As mentioned earlier, Facebook is one such favourite site where one can connect or reconnect with new and old friends. Known strangers, forgotten friends, a long lost colleague or a distant cousin, one can search anyone on Facebook. No blamed-shame, no damned game, it’s just a place to have sheer fun with friends—both new and old.

The best attribute of Facebook is that it doesn’t discriminate people. One doesn’t need to feel low or high. A copy-pasted sense of humour also works wonder for any individual (try at one’s own risk though). And most importantly, it saves your phone bill to a great deal. Try and believe me. Let me cite just a simple example. The other day I was talking with a cousin on the phone. We were talking on random topics about our very leikai and other usual titbits. Without any astounding reason, the topic somehow switched to Facebook. We giggled telling each other how almost everyone from our Leikai is on Facebook and how its fun to pull one another’s leg there on various dedicated groups about our leikai/Kendra. We abruptly ended the conversation telling each other ‘Oh come on its waste of money talking over phone, let’s pull others’ leg right there on Facebook so be online as soon as you can’ Stingily-strange though it may sound, I almost consider that Facebook is one good means to save your phone bill.

Pale jokes apart, I earnestly believe that it is a high time we finally admit it and rejoice our keen association as interesting citizens of the ‘Republic of Facebook’? Hurray!! Internet Lairembigi Mapaari Mark Na Yaifarey!

Ever since those Doordarshan days, we have been fascinated by the various brand commercials of various products telecast via television. We, in fact, grew up singing and humming various brand anthems and slogans such as Yahi Hain Right Choice Baby, Dhaara Dhaara Shudh Dhaara, Tandooroosti ki Raksha Karta Hain Lifebuoy, Lifebuoy Hein Jahaan Tandooroosti Hein Wahan Lifebuoy etc. How can we ever forget those commercials with which our childhood memories are closely entwined? We still remember the slogans, names and even the dialogues of some of the best brand commercials we have watched then. All thanks to advertising!

Advertising is one of the full-fledged sectors that contribute a major share in the Indian economy. However, in Manipur as well as in the entire North Eastern States, it is a less popular sector with just a few players in the field. For those who are already in the field, they must be pretty aware about the revenue that advertisements generate for a particular brand or business. Advertising can never be termed as an unwanted tool of marketing. We need to digest this very fact that without advertising, brands are dull and lifeless. Entertaining and informing us about various products, services and even ideas, advertising is an art of communication however at a tagged rate. An investment to generate revenue—this could be one of the simplest understan-dings of Advertising.

The lookout for a secured career and also the limited understanding of people from our society are perhaps two accountable reasons that haven’t popularised advertising as a career option in our State or in North East India. But it is not a big deal as long as we can discover new means and measures of promoting advertising industry in the State. One cannot predict like an Amaiba or Amaibi that ‘Advertising industry will do wonders in Manipur’, yet if we give a thought on it maybe we would come up with an IDEA THAT CAN CHANGE everything. The most expensive thing on this blue planet of ours is IDEA. Even our CM has got plenty of ideas on his mind which is the sole reason why he has been ‘fevicoled’ to his post for all these years (Punch Line: Fevicol ka Jor Hain Tutega Nahin). Well, from my humblest point of view, he is one of the pundits from whom I can learn many innovative strategies on advertising (in a different perspective though).

Well, choosing a career in advertising was perhaps the last thing that crossed my mind. However, I must admit, it is one interesting field where one is not restricted to think within a square room. The best part of being a citizen of advertising planet is that any weird idea or a crazy tactic can be deployed to impress target customers. And from A for America to Z for Zimbabwe, the mind can travel places, choose its own theme and come up with the right tricks and techniques of communicating the brand message to a particular target group. Freedom of thought and expression, implementation of liberal ideas and presentation of inimitable yet copyrighted stories of one’s own—all these are possible on the advertising planet.

I happily share my fraternity with every advertising professional who eats advertising, sleeps advertising and dreams even advertising. The euphoric journey is so far worth anything. Though it is a new challenge to come up with a new theme, trick, tactic or even a tip of branding, it is sheer fun to be a part of this breed of crazy-minded professionals. If we observe around, there is always an advertiser within each one of us—one who wants to share or promote his or her hidden skills, one who wants to be noticed by everyone, one who loves to be praised for what or how s/he is. I did once share an update on my favourite social networking site Facebook that everyone is an advertiser in disguise, some advertise their emotions, some advertise their humour while some advertise their frustrations. So, my bottom line is that we all share one affinity when it comes to advertising.
Let us cherish it forever!

Come to think of it, you can also relate it to the protest led by the Ema’s of Manipur on account of the death of Late Manorama Chanu. Relating a reel scene to a real one may sound a little unrealistic but condemning altogether would be unfair. I bet most of us here have seen the movie and the strong message that was conveyed through the movie couldn’t have escaped anyone’s eye.

Though the cause and the issue for which the march was initiated in the movie was a trivial one but yes, we can always inculcate he spirit of the children. We all know that nothing in this world  evolved into something big relentlessly on its own. Small things conjoins to make it big. Isn’t it? And thus, the impossible chaddi march can shake the whole system in its own way.

It is not just a march that we are talking about. It is more about the courage and the spirit to stand united no matter what. It is all  about raising our voice against what is wrong and standing up for the right despite all the pressure to sway us away from the cause. It is all about our determination, our will-power and our devotion to the cause.

It is all about how we truly feel for the cause and how committed we are in trying to make the cause a success. There is never a path strewn with flowers for us. We need to carve our own way out of the thorny paths that leads to success. It would be foolishness on our part to search for a comfortable path towards a brighter future instead of carving the path on our own.

To achieve certain objectives and to materialize a definite strategy, it is important to have the right people at the right time to do the right thing! And thus, the time to restore our lost glory is now here. So, let us all strike the iron when it is hot! As the saying goes “make hay while the sun shines”.

Zelianrong FC and KSL the best of 16 teams in the 2011 Tamchon Memorial Football Trophy, are through to the final which will be played on the 5^th November 2011 at 5:50 pm. KSL defeated HSA FC by 2-1 goals and Zelianrong defeated FC UH-NAI by 3-1 one goals to get through to the final.

The final match will be accompanied by a pompous closing ceremony and it will be worth recalling the opening ceremony which was carried out in the grandest way possible. India’s Got Talent winner Shillong Chamber Choir will also be performing on the closing ceremony.

Since the commencement of the event till the last semi-final match, more than half of Ambedkar Stadium is filled by spectators cheering for their teams. One can also in the midst of the game get to taste various Northeastern cuisines like Singju, Mo-mos and meat prepared the Northeastern way. It is expected that the final match will be witnessed by double the number of spectators since the match is going to be held this weekend. One can enjoy the match and the closing ceremony without being bothered by the thought of going for work the next day.

One thing worth reminded is that the match between FC UH-NAI and HSA will also be conducted the same day at 12:00 noon.

Many are preparing to witness the long awaited final match and closing ceremony and so am I. See you there at the venue.

For more click here.