GUWAHATI TRIBALS AND SOME CRUCIAL SAFETY TIPS

GUWAHATI TRIBALS AND SOME CRUCIAL SAFETY TIPS
Mangneo Lhungdim®

There is an alarming increase of motivated crimes – robberies, robbery related physical assaults including rape, drugging cases in train and bus journeys, etc. The trend unmistakably suggests such crimes are being perpetuated against a particular ‘vulnerable’ target group of persons or communities. And the Chin-Kuki-Mizo groups perfectly come within this bracket.

The recent case where a pastor from Manipur was drugged early in the morning apparently by the rickshaw driver in connivance with the tea stall owner at Paltan Bazar, the two Kuki youth coming back from Diphu found unconscious at Guwahati railway station, the day-light gold snatching incidence of Beltola last Friday, the unfortunate and gory ambush at Dr. Niangngaihlians’ residence behind Down Town hospital, the lucky escape from near death of my cousin Hemkhomang Lhungdim (a lecturer with Changlang College AP) at Mariani Railways station, and many such more unknown/unreported cases every day.

On average 100-150 CHIKIM persons from the twin hills districts of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram commute to & from Guwahati for various reasons related to hospitalization, scholarship/study related business, religious/NGO duties, government duties, etc. around 25% are always first-timers and more than 85% do not speak/understand Assamese, Hindi or English. Around 15-20 % is with family or relative. (Sources: roughly estimated from Downtown Hospital, CBCNEI Guest House register)

There is also an increasing population of the above conglomerate residing in Guwahati rather as a push factor from the uncertainties of law & order situation in Manipur. The student-family population ratio in 1998-99 probably was 75:25 which, today has reversed virtually to the opposite. Guwahati is one major destination for similar migration involving other communities from different other parts of the country and across the border has not made the city a safer place to live in.

Vulnerability of adjusting to fast track metro life Guwahati:
Guwahati today as the fastest growing cities in South Asia is struggling to keep pace with changes that come along as collateral with metro-culture. While the so-called locals (read Assamese) would subtly resent the assimilation, the changing face of the city, the divides between Assamese and non-Assamese seem to have been exploited to the hilt by gangsters, goons and some small time criminals in the city by targeting the ‘non-Assamese speaking’ communities and particularly those hailing from Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Though law and order is the responsibility of the police a person/community needs to take all precaution in crime prevention by identifying vulnerable aspects and doing something about these vulnerabilities.

While not writing off the primary responsibility of an individual for his/her personal security/safety, the various students and welfare organizations need to come together on few common issues and challenges including on this occasion. No body may come with a ready-made solution to the issue but by sharing solidarity and concerns there are few advantages; first, it provides solace to the victim family/individual, secondly it is a show of strength to the would-be perpetuator/criminal and lastly, it provides all concern an opportunity to prevent similar crime committed against her/him.


SAFETY OF RAIL PASSENGERS

During the period January to September 2006 in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. According to entry No. 2 of the State List of the Constitution of India, ‘Police’ (including Railways and village Police), is a state subject. Registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are, therefore, the statutory responsibility of the State Police. The State Police have a separate wing called Government Railway Police (GRP) for dealing with all matters relating to law and order on the Railways. So, Railways have to depend largely on state police (GRP) for control of crime on Railways. Regular coordination meetings are being held by RPF and Railway officials with their counterparts in GRP and police of concerned states to highlight this problem and find out effective strategy to tackle the menace. To effectively supplement the efforts of the State Governments in controlling crime on the Railways, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff are being deployed to escort many trains and also on access control duties in the passenger area to augment the efforts of the State Governments. RPF has also been empowered to deal with minor offences affecting train operations such as alarm chain pulling, roof travel, touting, ticket less travel, unauthorized entry into coaches earmarked for ladies etc. (except sabotage related offences under Sections 150 to 152) with the amendment to the Railways Act, 1989 w.e.f. July 2004. During the year 2006, RPF have apprehended 49 offenders responsible for looting of passengers after drugging them and forwarded to the concerned GRP for further legal action.

The following preventive measures are also being taken to combat such menace: -

• Repeated announcement is made at Railway Stations to create awareness amongst the passengers not to take any food / drink / tea from unknown passengers.

• Wide publicity in the local and leading newspapers as well as TV is also being given.

• Signages in local language are being displayed in trains as well as on station platforms.

• Pamphlets are also being distributed among the passengers to create awareness.

• Close coordination with GRP and local police are being maintained to exchange information regarding criminals indulging in such act.

• Photographs of habitual offenders are pasted at Stations platforms in Rogue’s Gallery.

New Positions notesworthy

Helen Keivom elected Deputy Chair in NZ

Helen Keivom, second daughter of L. Keivom, IFS (Retd.) was elected Deputy Chair to the City Council (District) elections in New Zealand on October 17, 2007. Helen Keivom is not just the first Hmar woman (Zo hnathlak) to hold this rank but the first ever among Asian women. The Council and their decisions have a very high profile impact at the National level. There are 4 districts in New Zealand.

Lamhao Doungel is Dy. Supeperintendent of Police (DSP) HQR - Karbi Anglong, Assam

Much to the respite of the eimis of Singhason, Manja and Diphu areas affected by recurring conflicts and marginalisation in the volatile district of Karbi Anglong, Assam Gl. L. Doungel APS has taken over the very crucial posting as DSP (HQR) at Diphu since Sep 2007.

This blogger had the previlegde of being invited over for a sumptous dinner at the swanky DSP quarters at Diphu last week and was boggled by the no-nonsense Police Officer with a mission and vision. Pu L. Doungel is a brave, honest and committed police officer whose mere presence in the district is enough assurance for justice and protection for the marginalised poor citizens of KA district.

Barbarianism in Beltola

Barbarianism in Beltola

The unfortunate violence at Beltola (Guwahati) last Saturday has sent a tremor of shocks and disbelief to all of us in Guwahati. The atrocities meted out to the protesting tribal (adivasis) by a mad public in full daylight and under the very nose of security personnel have left me freezing numb. Never in my life have I seen such gross violation of humanity against the tribal, their women and young persons.

The gory incident took place so close to me (I stay at Beltola so are many tribal families) that shook my entire foundation of self respect, dignity, right to life and freedom of expression as a tribal and as a citizen of this great country.

What ever the immediate cause for the violence does not bother me more than the suspicious indifference attitude of the law keeper, administration that allowed the violence for more than 2 hours and silently watched tribal women and men being torn apart, abused, violated upon and butchered like they were not human. No excuse can justify the fact that the administration on Saturday miserably failed to protect its own citizens.

I still cannot digest that the vandalism ‘was a spontaneous violent reaction’ of the locals considering the timing, and execution of the 'reaction' as the protesting tribals were all cornered. The fleeing tribals were also intercepted even in adjoining areas of Betapara, 6th Mile and Khanapara gullies which suggests the entire reaction could have been pre-planned by anti-social elements.

The Government of Assam though belated has eventually acted by transferring the SSP and DC and also brought the individual goons who mercilessly stripped a tribal girl to book. The inquiry instituted by the Government is expected to pint point the action and inactions of the concerned authorities and to recommend exemplary punitive legal action against all the culprits.

The Government has also begun the healing process by announcing various ‘plans and decisions’ to address the long-pending demand of the Adivasi communities of Assam.

Lets all join hands together to condemn the vandalism and remind the administration of its primary function: protection of lives and properties of citizens. Saturday, it was the helpless Adivasi brethren and unless a strong message is sent across, it could be anybody next.

Mangneo Lhungdim
26th Nov 07

Are We Vision led or activity led?

Are We (KSO) Vision led or Activity led?
Mangneo Lhungdim, Advisor KSO (G)
E-mail him at: mlhungdim@gmail.com

Dear leader, vision is it: without vision the people perish. A vision is a future reality seen now. It is a portrait of a future that grabs. Are you a leader--a CEO? Then you aren't appointed simply to maintain the status quo and ensure the wind blows on as usual. You are to dream, dare and do.- Kumuyi, William F. “Goliah Business Knowledge on Demand”.


Many of the surviving institutions that are in our prized possession today are largely white elephants[1] and we often struggle to define these elephants no better than the famous five blind men. In the modern world, those who do not go forward fast enough go backwards. The Kuki Students’ Organisation is at a standstill, looking around, debating and thus going backwards.

Without vision, we are blind – and without a vision, an organization is liable to be stumbling around, lost in the blizzard. As Joel Barker suggested in his work on The Power of Vision, “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.”

Use your vision to focus
Why does our organization exist? What business are we in? What values will guide us?
Great wealth, a roaring enterprise, a man on the moon, brother and sisterhood among the races of the globe... what is your organization's vision? "What will success look like?" In trying to answer these questions, one would rather begin with an individual introspection. Why am I here in Guwahati? Of course, each one of us have set a target or two or, too many for that matter. How many years do I give myself to achieve or attain it/them? And for the simple reason that KSO (G) and/or the society are a construct of individuals (including you and me) with different aims/targets, allotted timeframes and resources at his/her disposal, we are not expected to advance the KSO’s interest at the personal cost or loss.

Echoing a recent Sunday message of Pastor Marak, A vision statement should be realistic, focused and credible, well articulated and easily understood, appropriate, ambitious, and responsive to change. It should orient the KSOs’ energies and serve as a guide to action. It should be consistent with the organization's values. In short, a vision should challenge and inspire the group and every member to achieve its mission. African proverbs – “a monkey who tried to get three mangoes from different branches in a tree at the same time fell on its back”.

Students with Vision
In an amazing longitudinal study on goal setting, Yale University surveyed the graduating class of 1953 on commencement day, to determine if they had written goals for what they wanted their lives to become. Only three percent had such a vision. In 1973, the surviving members of the class of 1953 were surveyed again. The three percent who had a vision for what they wished their lives would become had accumulated greater wealth than the other 97 percent combined.
This tells us that without a vision, success is impossible. We cannot pretend that it is possible to take a second step without taking the first or to implement the vision without efficient organisation.

The power of organisational vision
Championing a clear, shared vision of where we as a group or organisation are going has always been seen as a key part of the leader’s role. In fact, the vision might be seen as the leader’s statement of their leadership goals – where is it that I am leading us to? This visionary role is never more important than in the increasingly complex and chaotic business environment we live in today.

Organisationally, research indicates that a clear vision that aligns strategic direction does indeed improve a number of performance measures, with those companies that are powered by vision outperforming the market by up to 15 times. We have all seen teams and individuals languish without a clear sense of purpose and direction, and thrive with clarity and shared purpose.
As an African proverbs says, ““When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion”

This is, of course, never more true than when that sense of shared purpose resonates strongly with the individual’s own personal purpose and value system. Your vision serves as a statement to all members, both current and potential, of where the organisation is going, and allows them to choose whether they wish to undertake that journey or not.

There is one universal rule of planning: You will never be greater than the vision that guides you. No Olympic athlete ever got to the Olympics by mistake; a compelling vision of his or her stellar performance inevitably guides all the sweat and tears for many years. The vision statement should require the organization's members to stretch their expectations, aspirations, and performance. Without that powerful, attractive, valuable vision, why bother?

There is much hard work ahead for the KSO. But it is worthwhile being part of a process of changing the description of the White Elephant if not so for elephant herself.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a dream," and what followed was a vision that changed a nation. That famous speech is a dramatic example of the power that can be generated by a person who communicates a compelling vision of the future

For further reading on setting Goal, Vision and please visit

http://www1.freewebs.com/consultneindia/
http://guwahatieimi.blogspot.com
[1] A white elephant is a supposedly valuable possession whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) exceeds its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability.

GUWAHATI SPIRIT??

“Guwahati Spirit” – a magical word for Guwahati Kukis apparently finds close resemblances with the popular Mizo spirit tlâwmngaih, (noun) self-sacrifice, unselfishness, etc; or being self-sacrificing, being unselfish, etc (as under the verb tlawm " ngai above). Also meaning (verb) to practise self-sacrifice, unselfishness, self-denial, etc (as above tlâwm " ngai above).

spirit (spir′it) noun - the life principle, esp. in human beings, originally regarded as inherent in the breath or as infused by a deity may also mean (1) the thinking, motivating, feeling part of a person, often as distinguished from the body; mind; intelligence, (ii) life, will, consciousness, thought, etc., regarded as separate from matter , (iii) a supernatural being, esp. one thought of as haunting or possessing a person, house, etc., as a ghost, or as inhabiting a certain region, being of a certain good (or evil) character, etc., as an angel, demon, fairy, or elf , (iv) an individual person or personality thought of as showing or having some specific quality the brave spirits who pioneered , (v) frame of mind; disposition; mood; temper in high spirits , (vi) vivacity, courage, vigor, enthusiasm, etc. to answer with spirit , (vii) enthusiasm and loyalty school spirit , (viii) real meaning; true intention to follow the spirit if not the letter of the law , (ix) a pervading animating principle, essential or characteristic quality, or prevailing tendency or attitude the spirit of the Renaissance , (x) a divine animating influence or inspiration , (xi) strong alcoholic liquor produced by distillation

Spirit according to Dictionary Of The Lushai Language, is eng ti-thâwl, (p. 128) [ eng ti-thâwl, ] v 1. to behave in a carefree unconstrained manner; to be cheery, jovial, irrepressible, buoyant, bubbling over with good spirits, light-hearted; to throw aside one's cares, burdens, worries, etc and enjoy oneself. 2. to be pompous, consequential, pretentious, affected, conceited, selfsatisfied, to put on airs. adj. cheery, etc (as above); pompous, etc

I do not claim to posse here a complete definition of Guwahati spirit, but this is how I can best put it based on my limited exposure and orientation in Guwahati eimi society since 1998. That the idiom or you may call it phrase is used interchangeably to refer to the unique characteristics of the organized Kukis of Guwahati where responsibilities irrespective of the weight and volume is a shared duty for both young and old alike, male and the female. And also refers to a society which is grounded and based all its initiatives largely on the sheer might of participation and ownership.

I would not be surprised if the term rings altogether different bells to you and others people. I first heard the term being used in the KWS (Guwahati) Sunday services by Pu L.L. Khongsai and also with punches by Pu D.P. Haokip and felt for it instantaneously. It sounded so captivating and turned out to be a very infectious vocabulary as I invariably begun using it in my after-service discussions.

Very lately I wondered if Pu T.S. Agou also noticed what is going through me. I wanted a translation in Thadou-Kuki but could not find it in the Suongmantam Dictionary. Exploration for an appropriate definition of Guwahati Spirit became an enigma and threatened to engulf me once again with its reference fast becoming an officially accepted norm. Probably, it is time for a second edition of Suongmantam Dictionary to hit the stand and give me some rest.

In Guwahati Spirit!

Mangneo Lhungdim

Rich Dad Poor Dad

I recommend this must-read for all eimis especially the students while for the general eimis I wish if somebody can translate the book in Thadou-Kuki.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is Robert Kiyosaki's first best-selling book. In it, he advocates financial independence by means of investing, real estate, owning businesses, and the use of finance protection tactics.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is written in what is meant to be an entertaining anecdotal manner to make finances interesting. [citation needed] The most central element stressed by Kiyosaki is the advocacy of owning the system or means of production, rather than being an employee of someone else.

Summary
The book takes the form of a story. It is largely based on Kiyosaki's own upbringing and education in Hawaii, although the degree of fictionalization is disputed. Because of the heavy use of allegory, some readers believe that Kiyosaki created Rich Dad as an author surrogate (a literary device), discussed further in the criticism section below. Many readers believe that the "Rich Dad" in the book, is actually the founder of the "ABC convenient stores" which are found in the most populated areas of a number of the islands of Hawaii.

The Poor Dad in the story is based on Kiyosaki's real father, a PhD holder and graduate of Stanford, Chicago, and Northwestern University, all on full scholarship, who was the head of the Education department of the state of Hawaii. In the book, he is greatly respected until he decides, late in his career, to take a stand on principle against the governor of Hawaii. This leads directly to Poor Dad losing his job, and his inability to find comparable work ever again. Because he has never learned to handle money, instead depending on the government (his employer) for support, he dies in severe debt.

In contrast to this character is Rich Dad, his best friend Michael's father. Rich Dad dropped out in 8th grade, but became a self-made multi-millionaire regardless. He teaches Kiyosaki and Michael a variety of financial lessons, and insists that the boys learn to make money work for them to avoid spending their whole lives working for money, like Rich Dad's employees, as well as Poor Dad, and indeed most of the people in the world.

Anthony Robbins holds a seminar called 'Wealth Mastery' and one of the keynote speakers is a gentleman called Keith Cunningham. During the seminar Cunningham claimed to be Kiyosaki's Rich Dad. This is highly unlikely not only because of the similarity in age between Cunningham and Kiyosaki, and Kiyosaki had stated in his books that Rich Dad had died in 1994. Some have claimed that Rich Dad was a person named Richard Kimi, the deceased founder of Sand and Seaside Hawaiian Hotels.

The book highlights the different attitudes to money, work and life of these two men, and how they in turn influenced key decisions in Kiyosaki's life.

Topics
Among some of the book's topics are: the value of financial intelligence that corporations spend first, then pay taxes, while individuals must pay taxes first that corporations are artificial entities that anyone can use, but the poor usually don't know how Kiyosaki says the rich think differently in how they define simple words like assets and wealth, and how they fund their luxuries. He explains that he defines an asset as any item which produces income (such as rental property,stocks or bonds), and a liability as anything which produces expense (such as one's own home, new widescreen TV, exercise machine, new garden tractor, motorcycle, computers, processed foods, swing sets, barbecue grill, tools, letting your property rundown and a new car every two years).

No one disputes that the rich buy "income-producing assets". Kiyosaki argues that the poor buy worthless items that they think are assets, which clearly do not earn anything, and may have no market value.

According to Kiyosaki, wealth is measured as the number of days the income from your assets will sustain you, and financial independence is achieved when your monthly income from assets exceeds your monthly expenses. Each dad had a different way of teaching their sons.

Quotations
"Physical exercise improves health, mental exercise improves wealth, laziness destroys both."
"A true luxury is a reward for investing in and developing a real asset."
"The only way to get out of the "Rat Race" is to prove your proficiency at both accounting and investing, arguably two of the most difficult subjects to master."

"I have mentioned before that financial intelligence is a synergy of accounting, investing, marketing and law. Combine those four technical skills and making money with money is easier."

“Most people are poor because when it comes to investing, the world is filled with Chicken Littles running around yelling, ‘The sky is falling. The sky is falling.’”

“Many of today's youth have credit cards before they leave high school, yet they have never had a course in money or how to invest it, let alone understand how compound interest works on credit cards.”

The book has been also read and recommended by Pu. L.L. Khongsai for all Kukis. A local version of the book is available with me and if you want to borrow please book your date:
mlhungdim@gmail.com
9864047091

Haopu Khongsai back to business

They say true leaders choose to suffer hardships unnoticed - out of the public view. Haopu, the General Secretary-KSO (G) experimented this recently, last Sunday.

Soon after the Lottery Committee (Gl. Helun, Nl. Lalkim, Gl. Hengoumang, Pu Mangneo and Gl. Haopu) finalized the ticket design, prizes, budget etc. for the Grand Lottery - 2008, we all went back to our gilbems and gilzoms and thought we had a good start. Around 11 pm I was finishing up the minutes of the meeting and about to join the warm company of my loved ones in bed when the phone buzzed. It was Haopu in his weakest voice asking me to rush (with Hengoumang) to his residence as he had become very weak after 10 consecutive motions.

He was taken to Downtown Emergency ward where the doctors kept him under observation for few hours before we all decided on his hospitalization. Later on we moved him to the 4th floor for the next 2 days.

Yesterday evening (Tuesday) Pu L.L. Khongsai led us in thanksgiving as Haopu was discharged and taken to Pu. L.L. Khongsais' residence.

Few interesting things during the brief hospitalization:

• The first complaint notes of the attending doctor read "gastro,..after pork in KUT festival"
• Hours after we moved Haopu on the 4th floor, Sangboi (sports secretary) assured us he will join us in an hour but managed to reach the room next afternoon. The KSO boss (Hengoumang) found out later that Sangboi had thought it was only a bad dream he had.
• The KSO president made the highest sacrifice on monday as he watched helplessly the Indo-Pak ODI on TV in the hospital as the Nehru Stadium ticket flipped by his side. He had looked forward to enjoying the once in a lifetime live cricket match that on the sunday evening after he dropped Haopu, he drove to the stadium to ensure the match was on.
• Funny was the attitudes of the doctors and attendents on emergency duty who kept pestering Hengoumang for his Indo-Pak ODI lone ticket.