Lessons that Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers can teach!

We must celebrate our misery! 96 months of existence with no salaries is by no means a meek achievement. Thanks to an incredible display of efficiency by our administrators!

Henryy Sinha, New Delhi
Editor, bishnupriyamanipuri.org

No please don’t call them a bunch of jokers. Not fair. You must understand the last eight years was a recce executed by our super efficient administrators, a preparation to survive the recession in 2009. This was meant to be case study for the welfare of global economy.

The Bishnupriya Manipuris teachers and in fact, all the teachers of the world regardless of caste, creed and sex, must thank this state administration for making them a part of this prestigious project called Misery. At last, some perks come from being soft targets!

Tell me, who would ever give such an opportunity to Bishnupriya Manipuris? Eight long years of extensive, in-depth practice of poverty, injustice and shit for a noble global cause.

Now don’t rage with anger. For God’s sake see the silver lining around this eight year old gloomy cloud. See what the administrators have given us. Experience to survive recession. Skills to survive poverty. Motivational strategies to live with zero finance for a decade. Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers are now equipped with exclusive management skills that can put an IIM or a Harvard graduate to shocking shame.
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Can you freaking expect an IIM graduate to manage himself for eight long years with zero finance? No amount of sophisticated, state of the art campus training can teach him that. Now the credit for this goes to our state administrators whom you called a bunch of miserable jokers a few minutes ago. How cruel! Why just management graduates? The Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers can now conduct workshops for leading corporate houses, global financial experts, Prime Ministers with financial backgrounds, the Editor of the Wall Street Journal to give in-depth training and insights into how to lead misery free lives with no money, no salary for eight long years. And yes, no money would be charged for the workshops. After all, the state administrators have a reputation to live up to.
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And the Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers better safeguard this reputation. For eight long years they have been trained to never ask for money. Never expect to get paid. To ban prosperity. To enjoy the sight as your children suffer the hunger. A fee charge might spoil that hard earned reputation of our beloved bunch of jokers. Apologies! State administrators.

The potential contribution of the Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers may not end with just the management graduates or the corporates. The Medical world too can milk the bleeding cows. The teachers can be subjected to state sponsored research by the world’s best scientists on unique digestive systems that can survive a decade of malnutrition. NASA can also step in and look into possibilities of sending the lucky 149 Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers up on space as an experiment to study if life in space is possible with scarce food or no food; just in case the earth faces a global food shortage in a few years as it is facing recession now. The Bishnupriya Manipuris teachers must anticipate and prepare the world to face any potential calamity fall upon it and persist for 96 long months. Perhaps even more.

It’s a privileged moral responsibility that this administration has thrust upon these Bishnupriya Manipuri teachers to teach the world a few hard lessons.

But yes, with no salaries.

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The Bishnupriya Manipuri
E – World

Jingta Koro Imar Thar

The Bishnupriya Manipuri language is in fact an eco friendly, cholesterol free language. It does no harm if spoken moderately, at least at home or with fellow Bishnupriya Manipuris. Injecting into the child the habit to speak in Bishnupriya Manipuri should be as crucial as polio vaccination is.

By Henryy Sinha, New Delhi

Grant me the privilege for a constructive crib!

On the 21st December 2008, a Mahila Samiti was formed in New Delhi by the Bishnupriya Manipuri Nagarik Samiti, (New Delhi- NCR). Needless to say, it’s a great initiative. Most importantly, an important initiative. But somehow a wicked voice in my head says, this Mahila Samiti might end up as yet another feel good, cosmetic outfit. Sorry for my premonition. I might have just fallen prey to facts. Maybe plain history.

It’s ritualistic to offer ‘privileges’ to a woman with a patronizing tone for the men. Be it America, Afghanistan or Japirbon, the plot remains the same. And this ritual, I bet is very much pronounced in our community as it is in many other communities as well. To admit, we can’t claim male chauvinism is no longer a migraine for us. It very much corrupts the power that lies between our ears. The mind.

Let us confess, as confession leads to correction. Whenever a woman’s forum is formed; it is mostly restricted to cuisine consultancy or flower décor! The accent of a women’s forum has been more on operations then crucial strategies or decision making. Women can do more than just cooking in a get-together or plucking flowers to garland the chief guest of a cultural event. I am more then sure about it.

With all sincerity, I believe this Mahila Samiti would not be a stereotype showcase women’s outfit. I believe it would do some serious business. New Delhi, in fact offers a very challenging task for this Samiti. The task to promote the Bishnupriya Manipuri language among the Bishnupriya Manipuris residing in the city.

A simple survey would reveal, the 5-10 families residing in New Delhi for the last 30-40 years, have butchered the growth of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. Let us confess again. Their children DO NOT SPEAK the language. The buck goes to the parents. It is the parents who have failed in a crucial responsibility. This is a serious issue which needs to be tackled with urgency. It is here where the Mahila Samiti comes in. Women are best to tackle this issue.

This is the Samiti’s biggest challenge. Make sure whenever a Bishnupriya Manipuri child is born in New Delhi, you the Mahila Samiti should go to its parents and educate its parents not to rob the child of it mother’s tongue. Educate the parents to teach their children speak in Bishnupriya Manipuri along with English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, Japanese, Spanish, Telegu or Burmese. Educate them that it is not UNCOOL to speak in the Bishnupriya Manipuri language in New Delhi or New York.

In fact, this language can be spoken in a place like Café Morrison or a TGIF. Educate them that the Bishnupriya Manipuri language is in fact an eco friendly, cholesterol free language. It does no harm if spoken moderately, at least at home or with fellow Bishnupriya Manipuris. Injecting into the child the habit to speak in Bishnupriya Manipuri should be as crucial as polio vaccination is. Forget about cooking in get-togethers or picnics. Forget about plucking flowers to garland the chief guest. This is your job at hand. This would be the Mahila Samiti’s social service to the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. Save the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. 

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Seere Seere Shinglei, Kacha Rokot Sitadei

Leaders of a dynamic composite like the Students Union need people who are well versed with politics, economics, culture, literature and global happenings. We need student leaders who can deftly converse with a student or a bureaucrat or a politician across multi levels. We need student leaders who are not just good individuals but are also well qualified academically. Let us stop this voluntary ignorance.

By Henryy Sinha, New Delhi

I still remember that serene sea. The sea of three thousand human voices that rose with the defiance of a tidal wave, erupting and then splashing the air with fiery words that burnt the noon sky.

‘ Seere Seere Shinglei,

Kacha Rokot Sitadei’

It’s been more then 10 years now. The sea remains as serene as ever. Silent. Passive.
But the voices, the three thousand voices, have been drowned to death into the labyrinth of our consciousness. The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students Union, once upon a time, the lifeline of the community, is now a corpse. A lifeless corpse. I can see its blood smeared in your hands and mine. A post mortem examination of this dead body would reveal some important findings.
The findings will say the death of the NBMSU is essentially a case of suicide and murder.

Many of us have helplessly witnessed the grand mindlessness that the NBMSU had displayed right after one single successful demonstration. From thereon, it was done continuously with a stupid arrogance that later transformed into sheer shamelessness. It was a pervert butchering of hopes that the Union had subjected the entire Bishnupriya Manipuri community to. The community, the youth was conveniently made to accept that the role of a Student’s Union starts and ends with a rail block or a road block. Soon it became an era when NBMSU was synonymous to only one word. ‘Strike‘. Only strike. Period. Result? A complete generation was paraded to ignorance and cultural impotence. Yes, you said it right. It was the in the 90s, the Union performed this perfect Hara Kiri for itself and the community.
In the process an optimism to set things right was blurred by the shortsightedness of the Union.
We missed the bus.

Our youth, our students could have been oriented on our culture, language, history at the grass root levels which I feel IS the biggest need of our community even today. Injecting into our youth, cultural and historical hygiene is, I repeat, the biggest need of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. Today out of 100 students, 90 students do not know our history. The remaining 10 aren’t sure about what they know.

The Bishnupriya Manipuri youth is in a dilemma how and where to voice an opinion or whom to pose a question. Leaders could have been groomed and trained to chart the way forward for the entire community. The cultural energy of the community could have been given a boost by the Union. In a nutshell, the Students Union could have led the Bishnupriya Manipuri youth to a constructive direction. Unfortunately none of this happened. Strategies were misplaced. Intentions were flaccid. True leaders were absent. This suicide was inevitable.

Apart from the self inflicted hemorrhage of the Union, what led to its indefinite hibernation is our decision to remain as mute spectators. Our mute spectatorship has given us wrong leaders to lead an entity like the Students Union. Have we ever questioned on what basis, we have chosen our Students Union leaders? What are their qualifications, their credibility and their talent? What is their vision for the Bishnupriya Manipuri youth or the Bishnupriya Manipuri community? Do they at all, have a vision? Do we know who is the President of the NBMSU? If yes, why is he the President? How old is he? How qualified is he?

Questions my brother, please ask questions. Or else you will be robbed, embarrassed and abused.

Leaders of a dynamic composite like the Students Union need people who are well versed with politics, economics, culture, literature and global happenings. We need student leaders who can deftly converse with a student or a bureaucrat or a politician across multi levels. We need student leaders who are not just good individuals but are also well qualified academically. Let us stop this voluntary ignorance. It will be cathartic for you, me and our youth. True, we are a minority. True we are a financially crunched community. True, we don’t have political patronage. True, we have a huge brigade of unemployed, illiterates. But Bishnupriya Manipuris are not complete idiots. We have students getting into IITs, IIMs (miniscule so what?), medical schools, engineering colleges, mass communication, technical institutes and the works. Can’t we choose a few good individuals to lead the youth? We can. Definitely if YOU, the students intent to.

Collectively lets us identify and understand where we have gone wrong, why we have gone wrong. Let us confess. Step ahead, YOU, the students take the initiative to set the Union in order. Don’t fall in the ‘Jetar Shokhi, Utar Gopi’ scheme of things. Apply your mind and to some extent, your courage too.

Please don’t elect a bunch of 40 year olds to lead the NBMSU, ever again.

Please don’t choose mindless individuals to lead the Bishnupriya Manipuri youth, to lead you.

Please, don’t choose those, who wish to be leaders. Choose those, who are leaders.

You, the Bishnupriya Manipuri youth deserve it.

In fact, you need it.

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Read by the same author:

Gaurapei, Purijelei take charge
No identity. No existence

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Thakat Dik Kolling ore

By Henryy Sinha, New Delhi

Well intentioned hard work often leads us, the Bishnupriya Manipuris, to an astonishing ramification. Indifference. Solemn indifference.

As a community we have an etched legacy of being naturally indifferent to good work, hard work or achievements. We seem to have installed chronic allergy into our DNA when it comes to establishing a kinship with encouragement, appreciation or gratitude. Prominently or perhaps only so if it concerns a fellow Bishnupriya Manipuri. What potent elements compel us to be a composite of this sort will have to be left for extensive research. 

At times self guilt leads to accept someone’s achievement or good work, among the articulate few. This acceptance arises out of fear. Fear to be recognized as the indifferent ones. Fear to be recognized as someone who breeds jealously and insecurity. Therefore the acceptance. This acceptance is fatal. This acceptance now results a strategy, which propels a back handed compliment. Now this back handed compliment is extremely loyal to his Master. He is just like his Master. Ridiculous. Appreciation is now laced with a shrewd coat of sarcasm. When this appreciation or back handed compliment is unleashed by the ‘Master of the Universe’ a new orphan is added to the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. This orphan is stripped off his judgment. Yes, stripped. Quandary about the ramification of his good doing sets in. He feels appreciated but feels more condemned. All his future intentions have been skillfully nipped in the bud. The Master now sleeps in peace. Applause! 

Some months back a chance meeting triggered this conversation with a fellow sapien. The conversation initially took off from the elections in the USA and then via Mahindra Singh Dhoni in India flew back home to Santosh Mohan Deb in Silchar. From there it was a walking distance to this topic. Read on. 

Hai baha amar aktai film ahaan nikalasi bultara. Nanghanou pahurlu. Kita thang..Koreek….….Koreen, kolin..na Kolling. Hai KOLLING. Finally!!!

I can bet this man knew the name of the film pretty well. It’s not as if every Friday a new Bishnupriya Manipuri film is released! He was faking his memory lapse. Reason? Well he thinks, had he prompted the name of the film at one go, he would have established the existence of the significance of the film. But by displaying the struggle to recollect the name of the film he was trying to establish the insignificance of the film and whoever who had taken this effort. In a nutshell he trivializes the effort. Shrewdly ridicules it. It’s nothing but the same old chronic jealousy. For God’s sake why are we sunk deep in profound jealousy especially when it comes to our own? Why are we misers when it comes to appreciating a fellow Bishnupriya Manipuri. Always. This wretched jealously blinds us from the fact that a pat on the back of another Bishnupriya Manipuri is a pat on the entire community, therefore a pat on one’s own back too. This envy has been and still IS detrimental to the community’s progress. High time we gauged it. Gagged it with our intellect and our will to progress the community.

Another school of thought laments, gujei, kita baro mora agolo film haan okortarata. Ehaante okoranigoi juut naase. They say, as this is the first Bishnupriya Manipuri film, the first scene with a corpse is a bad omen! Obai! What shit!

Firstly, Kolling is not the first Bishnupriya Manipuri film. The first one was made way back in the 1980s in Tripura by the great Beliraja, Late Bimal Sinha.

Second, are we seeing such a thing in a film for the first ever time? Why are our thoughts traveling back to the Stone Age in these days of satellite channels? 

I seriously fail to understand why the moment it comes to something Bishnupriya Manipuri, we always see the glass as half empty? Why hunt faults with chronic consistency and sadistic pleasure when there is a vast landscape of NEED for appreciation and encouragement. 

I am not saying Kolling is a cinematic masterpiece. It is not. It’s not even close to it. 

However we have no right to strip off the credit that it deserves. Here’s why.

DILS Lakhindra Sinha, mama, as I call him, has come up with a realistic concept and a storyline which is very much a social issue if not a burning issue in the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. It is a story of a poor man who is harassed, tricked, blackmailed by a Bamun (Brahmin) after the death of his father. The film has been made with an intention to highlight a social problem that persists and will persist unless necessary initiatives are drawn. Therefore Kolling is an extraordinary film in its own right. It is a landmark initiative. 

Besides, Kolling has its own reasons to that we can cheer, if not celebrate. One can witness some credible performance at play, especially by the older lot. The mother of the poor man, the Brahmin, the village head who were simply brilliant in their portrayal of characters. I was amazed at the flair and the ease of the actors. Commendable. 

Let us remember this was done by a team, most of whom were facing the camera for the first ever time! 

Next comes the art direction which was pretty realistic and intelligent. The backdrop of the film was a typical Bishnupriya Manipuri village and to give the credit where it’s due, it did come on screen like one. It looked like a typical Bishnupriya Manipuri village. The film has a strong current of poverty that exists in our society and that has been aptly translated on the screen. 

What impressed me the most is the realistic portrayal of the characters, especially the ‘villains’.

Here it’s not the usual good or bad characters shown as plain white or black. The characters have a range of colors. Black, white and also grey. The bad guy here isn’t the usual loud mouth, tough looking cookie but your very own revered Eiga who ruthlessly and systematically blackmails you with tears in his eyes, talking to you like a protective father, with constant reference to the Almighty. He weeps, but he threatens. He threatens, but he pats your back. Astonishing. Simply astonishing. This shows how well the director has briefed his actors and also displays his zeal for realism. 

Yes. I do agree the ‘item number’ was ridiculous, so was the heroine who confused us with her diction. I could not comprehend whether she was speaking in Assamese or in Bishnupriya Manipuri. Also why take a 40 year old to act like a 25 year old and romance a 20 year old girl? Logistics, economics or manpower might be the answers.

Also just as I liked Lakhindra Sinha the writer, I did not like Lakhindra Sinha the actor. Specially his dramatic tone of dialogue delivery throughout the film. One doesn’t speak like that in real life. Maybe it had to do with his encounter with the medium for the first ever time. 

But overall, Kolling is a significant injection into the Bishnupriya Manipuri consciousness, cultural and social. It has given many of us a deeper understanding of the sufferings that our poor and innocent Bishnupriya Manipuri families go through in the revered hands of our own ‘Demons of Gods’. Brahmins. 

We as a community must collectively thank Mr. Lakhindra Sinha for writing this film and Chandrakanta Girok for his heroic attempt to bring the story alive on the silver screen. Kolling is therefore a reason to be celebrated. If not, at least a reason to be encouraged. 

Giri githani, khani thakat dik.

Read: 

Give solutions to problems riddling the Bishnupriya Manipuri society by Santosh Kumar Singh

Adhare Mingaal: The Bishnupriya Manipuri Album

Mrs.Padmaja Sinha releases Hakhan Leichondonor Selpakhan online

By Henryy Sinha, New Delhi

Paralysis. It is becoming astonishingly difficult for me to fix the gaze of my mind on words, in the middle of this wide sea of words that seem to be swimming in frenzy, in a haze, in a glimpse right in the middle of my brain. To baptize the imagination of a human brain, that has the capacity to think something as radical as ‘Hakhan Leichondonor Selpakhan’- is a difficult task.

While witnessing a ballet of two marvelous relationships of a mother and a sister in one magnificent human soul through all these years might have killed the vision in me to peep through the incredible thoughts that soar so high with impossible melody, flying like white doves in a trance, flying, merging with the sky and landing in a world beyond, that’s so beautifully Bishnupriya Manipuri in its essence. Pristine. Divine. Beautiful. 

Mrs. Padmaja Sinha – the womb of these thoughts. I take this opportunity to introduce this magnificent poet, lyricist,writer and creative artist. May I also request you to entertain a confession before I finally draw up the curtains on her work. Yes. I confess, I was initially reluctant to write about this ‘thinker’, as I haven’t being groomed or should I say, allowed, to applaud for myself, applaud for my own blood. Applause I was taught has to implode, not explode.

I feared being biased. A ferocious battle between blood and logic was at play within me, the night I read, ‘Ningshing Ume’ .

To write for this poet, I had to kill the brother of this poet – that’s me. Though I agree the brother has not been killed entirely. Cannot be killed. However as I traveled through the pages, I did become a witness to the challenges of a Bishnupriya Manipuri poet – lost words, rarely used words, sometimes dormant words. But through ‘Ningshing Ume’, Mrs. Padmaja Sinha does show us the amazing landscape that this language has to offer, the vastness that can be explored, need to be explored.

‘Ningshing Ume’ through its refined collage of imagination and poetic expression made me immensely proud as a Bishnupriya Manipuri.

And as a brother it made me a bit humble, a bit proud. 

Mrs. Padmaja Sinha resides in Silchar. She is a house maker and happily married with three kids. She has also written several other books in Bishnupriya Manipuri and in Bengali.

Read : Hakhan Leichondonor Selpakhan

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Gaurapei, Purijelei take charge

By Henryy Sinha

I sip my coffee while my fear sips me. Fear. Salif Keita’s song ‘Tomorrow’ swims into my ears, while my fear takes a stance asking what’s for us tomorrow. My mind absorbs and observes the world that’s changing.China. India. The Obama Revolution. Sensex. NY Stock Exchange.James Bond. The Australian cricket team. Hollywood. Bollywood.Iron Maiden. Rolling Stones.Space technology.Maharashtra.

In this bizarre motley crew where do we stand as a community? A question that haunts me. And at times – inspires me.

The Sadhu Baba Utsav was a success. To me it was more than that. The Utsav was an occasion of insights. Introspection. Retrospection. Inspection. Correction.

It gave me a sneak preview to some shocking realities. Realities that we all must have seen surely but never imagined they can act as potential speed breakers to a progressive sprint.They are so microscopic, so sporadic, so automatic and so customary in nature that you tend to ignore them. You ignore them. You let them be. Therefore you welcome them. Once you welcome them, you make them a custom. This custom now injects you with a shameful yet venomous poison to ensure an insignificant life and death for you. It decays you. Dements you. Kills you.

This time around we thought about battling this virus. We discovered this virus can be cured. How? Read below. Before that, let me apologize for not mincing words.

Rule 1: ‘The deadly bujon’ – Tackle him

Bujon. A vital word in the life of a well groomed Bishnupriya Manipuri. Few take this word as seriously as you and I do. Proves the refined DNA of our community. However to respect and to accept are two different things. Respect an elder. That’s sacrosanct. But to respect does not mean to blind-accept.

While organizing an event, look out for the fake, weak, spineless bujon. Pardon my words. But this is a fact. This bujon would always be your potential speed-breaker. You have to encounter his deadly one liner – Baha tumi uta haar naupeitarai.Eta bout rohoishor yaari. My question. What is this rohoisho? Is it so high a science that we cannot fathom? We have understood, Lord Krishna’s teachings, Lord Buddha’s teachings? Kintu ere bujon creed etar yaari haar naupeilaang!

Ask him questions.

Ask him to teach you then and there and educate you. If he doesn’t, take him over. As simple as that. Be polite but be firm. You are serving the community not individuals.

Another line. ‘Uhaan naitoi’. Why? Kya naitoi? Ask him. You have a right to know. His is not working for CIA. Decode every myth. But with respect.

Also be careful. During the occasion this bujon would try to snatch the mike from you and then say, ‘Mi kotha akchuti mating’. Post that he would talk about his son’s wife’s uncle’s daughter working with an MNC.

He will then conclude with his contribution to the event. Mostly in Bengali.

He would also ask you to change the programme schedule in between to ensure that his speech is heard by one and all. Hore Krishno!

Fortunately most of the Bujons I have met have been tremendous guiding forces barring a few. Those few need to be tackled with caution.

Do not disrespect, but strategize to tackle this creed of bujon. Respect but tackle.

Rule 2: Spineless leaders. Identify them.

Do not lick his ass if he SINCERELY DOESN’T makes an effort to know the community. Don’t be led by a lamb. Be wary of the person who is ashamed of the community, its language, its customs. He can’t do any good. If such a person is working, then he is working to salvage his image, his identity. He is NOT working for the community but himself. Period.

You don’t need to stay in Fetifaat to understand this community. Staying in Mumbai or Delhi you can understand and serve the community good. Example, Rebati Sinha Girok. He has been working relentlessly for the community, speaking the language, keeping in touch with the people of the community even after spending more then half his life in Mumbai.

If we have to convince and fight with a leader to wear our costume, speak our language on an important occasion of the community, its doomsday for us. If a leader is ashamed of his community, it’s an insult to our intelligence. Replace that guy. Remove him. Period. Get someone who respects, understands and is passionate about this community.

Will not name, but there was a gentleman (a leader) who once remarked, this community is run by drivers and handymen! Heights.He stinks of ignorance.

Scan your leader. Make sure he knows the community. If he doesn’t, see if he is willing to learn about the community. Please for God’s sake, for your sake and our sake don’t just blind-select or blind-elect.

Rule 3:Resources.Get the gaurapeis/purijeleis in place.

Tell them the importance of the event. Tell them how they would benefit. Tell them the importance of their contribution.

Get them thinking. Don’t keep them just to run around. Don’t make them Leisi Machines. Unzip their mouths. Ask them to talk, question, to give their opinions. Groom them as leaders. Make them fearless. Stir his within, he will work from within.

Get the numbers. If you need 10 people make sure you have 20 people. Be sure on the D day atleast 5 wont come. The other 5 would reach late. Keep a good back up.

Brahmananda and me had a wonderful time. We conducted couple of workshops with the Gaurapeis. Through the workshops, their roles were chalked out, a common name for the volunteers was selected through a voting – Changkhol Ami.

The Changkhol Ami team brainstormed how to tackle the people in the venue, the stage, protect the stage, manage the sitting area, make sure people in Bishnupriya Manipuri fichet only got on to the stage, no aliens around the stage, reception of the Chief Guest.They were not just told. Things were discussed and rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed at length.

Once you have a team of hardcore dynamic gang, your job’s done.

Rule 4: Get the right people.

Not because he is like my elder brother, but in Brahmananda we had a solid host. In his white feichom and pure Bishnupriya Manipuri words flowing through his microphone, he was like a ‘Dola Nongsha’ (White Lion).

Yes I would call him that! He announced politely but firmly that only people in our fichet and in our clothes would come up on the stage. He is the best Bishnupriya Manipuri host I have ever seen.

Bai the maverick he traveled past midnight to come to the venue for finishing the pending work.

Chondon for rallying his bike day in and day out for work.

Hari for coming to each and every meeting.

Nilkanto for standing up even to the Chief Guest to ensure emar thar is spoken.

Rishi busy with his cell phone the entire night inviting people to the Utsav and of course doing the stuff on the blog for the last 3 months for the Utsav.

Ashok for standing against the bare sun receiving the guests with flowers

Vikram and Jyoti for making those amazing Changkhol Ami batches

Babu for working like a maniac during collection, skipping office

Mahitosh for being the true Bishnupriya Manipuri and coming up with the term Changkhol Ami

Krishnakanto for making sure no aliens hovered around the stage.

Bhim for taking up responsibilities like a real McCoy!

Surajit for silently working in his own way attending meetings, being a lift in collection.

JK, Monika, Monty, Momi for rehearsing with amazing precision in the midst of chaos!

Mihir, Ashu, Bablu and Jayashree for the amazing Sadhu Baba’s painting!!!!

There was a time, someone came and tried to snatch away the microphone (customary!!!) to make a random announcement. As per strategy and the sanctity of the event, that man was denied the microphone.Politely. With a homa.

The homa was our weapon. This weapon convinced people to get onto the stage to wear our feichet and speak in Bishnupriya Manipuri. Nobody dare say the guys were impolite. Things were tackled with tremendous politeness.

Rule 5: Discipline. Get the look right.

This is essentially a Bishnupriya Manipuri event. We were not asking people to wear our feichet and go to a boardroom or a bar. However coming to this occasion with our feichet definitely adds to the sanctity of the event. It’s visual branding. It reminds us of our roots. It reminds us we are amongst our own people. It reflects our responsibility.

The Changkhol Ami team was visually branded strategically for the occasion. Dressed in spotless white dhotis, kurta, our gamsa and namsha, they looked impeccable. They commanded awe and respect in a rare way.

This is not a platform to highlight individual achievements. The day belongs to Sadhu Baba, not you, not me.

No extra irrelevant speech. Although it was tried at least 4 times by a someone (leader) trying to convince, recommend a speech by someone for no definite reason. Our bunch of guys, our host, did not let that happen.

The reason I am writing this article is because it’s high time our youngsters (a talented lot) took more initiative. Your involvement is directly proportional to the development of the community. You can learn from what we have done and what we haven’t. Don’t wait for someone to show you the way. Lead the way man. Lead. You all have done it in this Utsav. You will do it in the future. Blast the dirty politics. Rise above the ego. Rise above a territory. Rise above idiotic snobbery. Sadhu Baba has already blessed you. So, lead. Fearlessly.

Best was how the Chief Guest, Shri Nilmadhab Girok, the disciple of the great Rabindranath Tagore put it that day “Baba mi te tumare (jaathaan) pahuresugo. Aji tumi more jagailai”. That got tears in his eyes and ours as well……

Homa

Read:

No identity, no existence by Henryy Sinha
Who is Henryy Sinha (all the articles by Henryy Sinha)

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No identity. No existence

By Henryy Sinha, New Delhi

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”.

By Mahatma Gandhi.

Surely we all must have seen this quote, read this quote, understood this quote and appreciated this quote. I have been doing that for the last thirty summers. Especially the last line.

I repeat, “But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”. What a line! What fascinating yet harmless arrogance. Resonates spine, gut and self respect.

Couple of nights back while browsing the blog two things arrested my restless eyes. First, the name Pocha Heedol, then an insight, a shameful insight. He writes lots of Bishnupriya Manipuri people using the Assamese gamosa across numerous occasions.

Shameful fact that Pocha Heedol is true in his observation and his concern is of deep import. Pardon my words. Pardon them as they are born more out of concern than anger. May I request your eyes on the words below?

A decade back, there was this procession by the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students Union in Silchar. Occasion – ‘Bhasha Andolan’. Number of people – around 600-700. Cause – Our language. Idea – Our identity.

In a nutshell it was a ‘Bishnupriya Manipuri’ procession. Read this. This Bishnupriya Manipuri leader designated as a Bishnupriya Manipuri President was leading the Bishnupriya Manipuri people wearing an Assamese gamosa around his responsible Bishnupriya Manipuri head. A head which represents a community. A head that plans the walk ahead for the community. RAPE. Yes it is. Damn. It is a social procession. Damn. It is a political procession. Get a life man. Where has your sense of identity evaporated? Where has your common sense vanished?

It is outright blasphemy. How can we and why do we sit quietly like innocent lambs when someone, and someone responsible, in front of our bare eyes strips our identity in broad daylight. My issue is not that he wore the Assamese gamosa. It’s a beautiful piece of art in itself. My issue is his wearing it on such a vital occasion, when you are supposed to establish your identity through certain symbols.

Gandhiji used khadi as a weapon to constantly hammer his identity and his stance into the British establishment. Khadi was more than a piece of cloth. It was a visual philosophy. A potent visual weapon.

In these days of branding, brand clutter, visual clutter it is of grave importance from a commodity to a community to differentiate itself. The idea here is NOT to isolate yourself from others, but retain your identity, retain your being while being with others, forming a secular mosaic.

If you have been to any Khechuri Palis these days in Delhi or Silchar or Guwahati or Shillong or Patherkandi you would discover people well in their forties or fifties wearing the Assamese gamosa. Rather proudly flashing it off.

I do appreciate their sense of fashion, but mate this ain’t the right place. There is no democracy here. Pardon my rambling, not trying to be a thick head Taliban, but given our state of affairs, caution, thought and more responsibility is the need of this sick hour.

Sample this man. I met him in Silchar. He had two kids. I felt sorry for those little souls. It’s abuse. The way they spoke to me in Sylheti with a strong Bishnupriya Manipuri accent was funny as well as tragic. Reason – Konaketo bideshe dangor osi ta nai! Bidesh? What the hell?It’s Silchar my lord!!! 80 km from Patherkandi, around 70 km from Dulobsora and 20 km from Katakhal !!!

I have spent 24 years of my life in Silchar, around Bengali friends, Bengali culture. But I ‘UNFORTUNATELY’ can speak in Bengali fluently WITHOUT a GODDAMN accent.

Unfortunately I can ALSO speak to Bishnupriya Manipuris in BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI. Have I taken extra HIDOL? I doubt so. Even if I did, don’t think that’s the sole reason for picking up my mother tongue.

Guwahati, 2002. Relatives. Friends. Foes. Many an irritating time I was cursed to hear this idiotic, shameful one liner. Ei bur Monipuri, Sonipuri moi najanude. Ei bur somaj tomajor pora moi durot thaku.

Are you Adam, Eve or Adonis? Surely not. I have seen you somewhere in Borkolei. I have seen you at Baromuni. I have seen you at Masughat. I have seen you at Fethipat. I have seen you at the footpath chewing a goddamn paan or dumping khaini into your holy pout.

Who the hell are you jiving this debris? Is the Bishnupriya Manipuri language so difficult that it freezes your tongue every time you try to utter a disgraceful word from its non existent dictionary?

Delhi, 2008. Khechuri Pali. A Bishnupriya Manipuri man well beyond his forties. Shamelessly dancing around with a microphone like a headless chicken in extremely British clothes, stinking of bidis. In a trance of course. No namsha, screw the feichom. He came to the “Pali”. Did a joydeb like a runaway convict. Had some food. Not some. Lots! His will be done. Always will be done. Amen!

I understand there are people staying extremely far away from India may not be fluent or conversant with the language or its culture.

But if you stay in a Delhi or a Guwahati or a Silchar or a Shillong and you do not speak your language, do not try to speak your language, do not regret to be unable to speak your language, in fact you are proud not to be able to speak your language, in one word you are a philosophy. Not a philosopher but a philosophy. I do not however do not have the luxury to belong to your school of philosophy. I refuse to be.

I am not against wearing the Assamese Gamosa. Not against speaking in Hindi, Bengali or Assamese or Portugese. Not against wearing bikinis, tattoos, studs or a Versace. But honestly, step treating your culture, your language, your customs is definitely not progressive. The Emar Thar, our gamcha, the firal, feichom, namsha, lei chondon, koyot, are symbols that interpret the fact that we are Bishnupriya Manipuris. The moment we cremate them, that too with our own hands, we would be on the street, as stripped orphans. With no identity. With no existence.

Respect the Assamese gamosa but don’t use your own gamsa just to wipe your feet after a hard day’s work. Sing shader lau or November Rain but know who is Kala Shena.

Brickbats awaited. Expected.

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You are wanted!

By Henry Sinha, New Delhi

None can take away from the Bishnupriya Manipuris one certain thing. Creativity.

I can see God nodding his head in agreement.

Nothing runs deep in our blood with so much intensity, with so much melody as dance, music, art do. As a community creativity is our second nature. It’s a proven fact. Would call it a ‘proven truth’ rather. I hear all agree in a chorus. No chance of a rhythm disruption at all in this count. Never.

Somehow I observe, we as a community are not vocal about it. Never were. Something stops us from CLAIMING and telling the world, ‘Hey look I’m the boss here’. With changing times, with million showcase platforms surfacing every second day it would be a sin if you don’t show it when you know you have it.

In fact, bloody flaunt it. It is a celebration of our own talent. It’s our way of thanking God for having given us this beautiful gift.

Apart from studies, I believe and I will truly believe till the last gasp of my breath, if our children, our talent are given proper training in this space of creativity, we can expect wonders. Provided it is a properly planned focused effort. As a person, I am proud to say I am pretty modest by nature!!!! However, I can’t deny the fact I was a gifted dancer. Apologies for the brag though. Having said that I owe my talent (dead talent as I’m on the side of the 30s) to my culture. It is because that I’m a Bishnupriya Manipuri that I WAS a good dancer. It is because I have danced in Rakhuals, Joydev, I got that sense of rhythm. Yes also because of John Travolta! Must mention. More than sure am I, when I say there are hundreds like me who can sing the same story.

If I was you or rather if I was as young as some of you are now, for my life, I won’t ever miss the opportunity that’s now knocking on my door. The Shri Shri Shri Shri Bhubeneshwar Sadhu Thakur Utsav on the 2nd of November 2008. Almost two months from now. On this occasion, the organizers, have kept a 2 hour space for entertainment. In these 2 hours there would be songs,dances,poetry recitation. The theme would be Shri Shri Shri Bhubeneshwar Sadhu Thakur.

We are looking for talent who can sing, dance or recite on the mentioned theme.

Well ofcourse, the medium of language would be Bishnupriya Manipuri.

The idea here is not to win a medal. That you would be taking part on such a holy occasion is a medal in itself.

The idea here is to create a ‘beautiful tribute’ for our Sadhu Baba. The idea here is to give a visual delight of our creativity to whoever comes to grace the occasion. It may be image or text. The idea here is to feel what we can be proud of.

Send in your numbers at rajkumarrishi1@gmail.com or henryy.sinha@gmail.com along with a description on your area of talent and log in your names.

You all are wanted. Rush in.

Winds of Change!

By Henry Sinha, New Delhi

General Meeting of Bishnupriya Manipuri Nagarik Samiti – Delhi NCR,

24th of August 2008, C R Park, New Delhi.

Agenda:

Perceptive Plan to drive membership for all Bishnupriya Manipuris residing in the Delhi NCR region in the Bishnupriya Manipuri Nagarik Samiti. ( BMNS, Delhi-NCR)

Blueprint for Shri Shri Shri Bhubeneshwar Sadhu Thakur Utsav

Members present:

• Dr. Nirmalya Sinha (President) Mr. CM Sinha ( Vice President)
• Mr. Shashikant Sinha ( General Secretary), Mr. Harilal Rajkumar ( Treasurer),
• Mr. Jishnu Sinha (Secretary), Mr. Nirmalendu Mukherjee ( Joint Secretary),
• Mr. Vikram Sinha ( Block Officer), Mr. Henryy Sinha ( Additional Secretary)

The next 60 – 65 days present some tough but exciting possibilities for the Samity to slice the apple in the way it should be, sort out serious issues, take up new challenges and chart the way forward for the community residing in the Delhi NCR region. Take out from the meeting, to summarize it.

For a change it was great to see the members being handed out neat and clean, printed copies by the President himself. Big deal? Oh yeah it is. We are getting the basic hygiene factors in place to begin with! It was great to see people coming to the meeting, even when they do not have their names or designations on the list. That’s called drive, passion. For a change it was great to discuss what to do and what NOT to do being polite, but firm. For a change it was great to see the young blood being encouraged to speak and take up the gauntlet. For a change it was great to decide to not let anyone self trumpet personal achievements during sacred occasions like Shri Shri Shri Bhubeneshwar Sadhu Thakur Utsav as it a community platform and not an autobiography mouthpiece. For a change it was great to see people fuming over a responsibility fugitive. The sparks to mean business can be seen. For a change it was great to see issues discussed one by one, hunting for solutions, finding solutions. Amicably. Unanimously. Lastly, for a change it was great to see members laying the emphasis on the three holy words which would be our redemption, hope so – Planning. Timelines. Accountability. Winds of change, I believe.

Now as mentioned above lets brisk touch the agendas for your understanding.

• The Samity through its Perceptive Plan would be rolling out a campaign to trigger membership of Bishnupriya Manipuris residing in the Delhi NCR region. It intends to register each and every member of the community, working, non working, young, old – to be a part of the Samity. This membership drive will be done with the objective to create manpower, resources and funds, which would be used for the welfare of the community – cultural, social.
• The Samity has documented a blueprint to organize the next big event, the Shri Shri Shri Bhubeneshwar Sadhu Thakur Utsav. In other words, the effort here is to induce proper planning, execution and professionalism into the event. More than the scale, the Samity would be focusing on the quality of the Utsav from now on.

On all the above objectives, teams have been delegated for specific jobs and allotted timelines with benchmarks.

I request all those residing in the Delhi NCR region to step ahead and take the baton forward. The Samity alone cannot do much unless we all unite as a force and make things happen for our community. Please come forward and extend your hands. Its your right, my right to be successful.

Thanks to Mr. Ravikant Sinha and family for the venue and the superb snacks!

Watch this space for more on this topic. Do come up with questions as well as suggestions. Innovative ideas are welcome.

Your time starts now. Get ready to register yourself.

Lets win!

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Huno : Lets thank God for this Sunday !!

by Henry Sinha, New Delhi

One more day to go for tea, coffee, cigarettes, khaini, chutki, gua, pana, DTC, bikes, Santro , Zen, Corolla, scooter, autorickshaw, Levis, UCB, Nike, La Mode, Janpath, Fab India, idiocy, intelligence, arrogance, politics, justice, faff, genuine, introverts, extroverts, favouritism, principles, hunger for power, innocent dedication, amateurs, groupism, isolation, professionals, this sabha, that sabha, my sabha, Bengali, Hindi, English, amaar thar, sarcasm, respect, disrespect, jealousy, love, suspicion, trust, verbose, blunt, sharp, weak, strong, trying to be strong, upstarts, successful, trying to be successful, failures, show offs, turn offs, simpletons, Nokia, Motorola, Reliance, Airtel, Hutch, Idea, landline, Gagara, Chenkuri, Baromuni, Bogotpur, Dutpur,unaam, Silchar, Guwahati, Kamalpur, rajalokei, parougolokei, e lokei, hou lokei, e gotro, hou gotro, Saket, Palam, Sadurjung, Gurgaon, engineers, scientists, businessmen, ad professionals, journos, Vikram, Ashu, Shashikant, Nirmalya, C M Sinha, Brahmananda, Surjit, Rishikesh, Hari Amit, Nirmalendu, Henryy, President, Treasurer, General Secretary, harou, yarou, ugly, bad, good, arguments, discussion, confusion and SOLUTIONS.

We have it all under one roof. We all will fight under one roof. We all will find solutions under one roof. We all will be ONE under ONE roof.

24th of August 2008, 4 pm, CR Park.

Be there for the Bishnupriya Manipuri Nagarik Samity Delhi-NCR meeting.

This Sunday belongs to us.