Month: January 2016

GW Parkway da Emagi waree, an acrylic painting

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“GW Parkway da Emagi waree” (My Mother’s story riding through GW Parkway), an attempt to capture the view of GW Parkway, Washington DC where I have heard many tales from my mother over the phone. I was so inspired and learnt so much meeting Pabung RK Ranendrajit and Emaibem in Manipur. And I gave this painting to them.

An acrylic Painting by Monica Ingudam

An attempt to capture the route at GW Parkway, Washington DC where I have heard many tales from my mother over the phone.

Paintingsby Monica Ingudam

I have done many of my paintings sitting next to Baba, talking to him as he wakes up in between.

An acrylic painting by Monica Ingudam.

S02E37 FindingTheVoices: Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba, Wildlife & Habitat Protection Society, Punshilok, Manipur (Part 2)

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FindingTheVoices: Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba , founder of  W.A.H.P.S (Wildlife And Habitat Protection Society) at Punshilok, Imphal, Manipur.
Language: Interview in Meiteilon (Manipuri)
Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba followed the calling to plant more trees and created a beautiful place at Punshilok, Imphal, Manipur. He started by living all alone in solitary on top of the hill. And slowly it expanded and extended to many young people providing a calm and spiritual place, a place to reflect on oneself. Meditation, music, silent retreat, connecting with nature, planting more trees in the hill are some of the activities. It’s amazing to hear the story of how some of the changes were seen amongst the youth who have been affected by the unrest and conflicts, giving focus and calmness in their life.
And a great satisfaction to convert a once barren hill to a hill with luscious greens and trees. I got an opportunity to visit the hill which is very close by from the heart of Imphal, with less than half an hour trek climbing up. In the first part of the interview he shared about the making of Punshilok and his journey. This is the second part of his interview sharing his quest to find himself, answer many questions which was muddling his mind, finding the answers with his connection to nature, his realization on the shrinking of human minds creating more conflicts. Life is short and live to the fullest is what he believes in. He believes in growing and nurturing the human body.

MI_5Born and raised in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe that we can create contents bringing the positive side of Manipur. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of our own people, people of Manipur and well-wishers of Manipur. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us.

I welcome you to join me in my journey to finding the voices at Http://FindingTheVoices.com/

S02E36 FindingTheVoices: Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba, Wildlife & Habitat Protection Society, Punshilok, Manipur (Part 1)

/ Monica Ingudam / 2 Comments
FindingTheVoices: Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba , founder of  W.A.H.P.S (Wildlife And Habitat Protection Society) at Punshilok, Imphal, Manipur.
Language: Interview in Meiteilon (Manipuri)
Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba followed the calling to plant more trees and created a beautiful place at Punshilok, Imphal, Manipur. He started by living all alone in solitary on top of the hill. And slowly it expanded and extended to many young people providing a calm and spiritual place, a place to reflect on oneself. Meditation, music, silent retreat, connecting with nature, planting more trees in the hill are some of the activities. It’s amazing to hear the story of how some of the changes were seen amongst the youth who have been affected by the unrest and conflicts, giving focus and calmness in their life.
And a great satisfaction to convert a once barren hill to a hill with luscious greens and trees. I got an opportunity to visit the hill which is very close by from the heart of Imphal, with less than half an hour trek climbing up. Presenting the first part of the interview where he shared about the making of Punshilok and his journey.

MI_5Born and raised in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe that we can create contents bringing the positive side of Manipur. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of our own people, people of Manipur and well-wishers of Manipur. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us.

I welcome you to join me in my journey to finding the voices at Http://FindingTheVoices.com/

S02E35 FindingTheVoices: Sanhita Ambast, International Legal Advisor talks about Silence On AFSPA

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FindingTheVoices: Sanhita Ambast, International Legal Advisor talks about Silence On AFSPA
Guest Speaker : Sanhita Ambast
A web Interview, with Sanhita Ambast joining in from Delhi, India.
Language: Interview in English

I read the article “The Undemocratic Silence On AFSPA” written by Sanhita Ambast and featured at http://www.huffingtonpost.in. This article highlights about the silence from the government of India, 10 years after the Jeevan Reddy Committee submitted its report. It has done nothing about its recommendations.

Sanhita shared about AFSPA in Manipur and status about the “Jeevan Reddy Committee” and the findings and recommendations. We spoke about national and international bodies that echoed the recommendations of the Jeevan Reddy Committee.

Several UN bodies and experts have called on the Indian government to repeal the AFSPA. However, the government of India – 10 years after the Jeevan Reddy Committee submitted its report – has done nothing about its recommendations. And, as the answer to the question in the Rajya Sabha indicates, it has provided little meaningful explanation about why.

When the system takes so long to provide justice, can there be peace ? Where is the justice ?  Where is the hope for people opting for peaceful protest seeking for the system to work ? There has been compensations but compensation cannot replace Justice, and it is justice, the people are waiting.

Sanhita Ambast is the International Legal Advisor (South Asia) at the International Commission of Jurists. Sanhita graduated from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. She has completed an LLM from Harvard Law School, and an MA in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, specializing in international human rights law.
AFSPA

MI_5Born and raised in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe that we can create contents bringing the positive side of Manipur. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of our own people, people of Manipur and well-wishers of Manipur. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us.

I welcome you to join me in my journey to finding the voices at Http://FindingTheVoices.com/

Lairik eebi, the lady writer, an acrylic painting

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The lady writer. Lairik eebi is the meiteilon word for a lady writer. Painted inspired by a story I heard of a Manipuri lady writer.

An acrylic painting by Monica Ingudam

PaintingsByMonicaIngudam

The Lady Writer, Lairik eebi

S02E34 FindingTheVoices: Mr. Arambam Boby (4 times Mr. World, 12 times Mr. India) speaks out – Part 2

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment
FindingTheVoices: Mr. Arambam Boby, 4 times Mr. World, 12 times Mr. India, a bodybuilder from Manipur speaks out (Part 2)
Guest Speaker : Mr. Arambam Boby
A Phone Interview, with Arambam Boby joining in from Guwahati, India.
Language: Interview in Meiteilon

Mr. Arambam Boby, bodybuilder from Manipur speaks out and shares his story with FindingTheVoices. He is 4 times Mr. World, 12 times Mr. India and has bagged many other titles.

And yet Findingthevoices is the first to interview him. Another reason of why we are here, we believe in the power of Internet, Youtube and sharing by the public covering voices which the media haven’t found.

Mr. Arambam Boby laments that when the state government of Manipur have ignored his achievements, what can he expect from the rest of India ? We as a community still need to progress in the field of recognition, learning to clap to celebrate achievements of an individual. He expressed his thanks for the support, encouragement given by the Railway department in Guwahati, where he is currently posted. His team has been very instrumental in all his participations of the body building events.

This is the second part of his interview where he spoke about the coverage and recognition of any achievement in the field of Bodybuilding. He shared about where Bodybuilding stands in India as compared to cricket. We spoke in appreciation of the article “Did Indian media just ignore the Mr. World from Manipur?” and thank Bhargab Sarmah for highlighting this.

He shared very interesting perspective of travelling, international and local career perspective and charm that comes as part of participating Bodybuilding events, competition and shows. He spoke details of what he follows to maintain his body.

Do catch up the first part of his interview, where he shared about his story on how he got into body building, his journey and experiences on his winnings and his reflections and lamenting on the lack of encouragement and recognition.

MI_5Born and raised in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe that we can create contents bringing the positive side of Manipur. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of our own people, people of Manipur and well-wishers of Manipur. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us.

I welcome you to join me in my journey to finding the voices at Http://FindingTheVoices.com/

Faceless, an acrylic painting

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment
FacelessPaintingbyMonicaIngudam.jpg

Faceless

Faceless , probably apt for something I wrote sometime back 084 IT’S ALL IN THE MIND : FACELESS

I was scared,
I seeked your protection,
Only to be left damaged and faceless.

The fate of a painting which was meant for Colors, I wrote sometime back 032 IT’S ALL IN THE MIND : COLORS THROUGH YOUR EYES

How would I know of the beauty of the vibrant green color of the bamboo leaves ?
How would I know of the beautiful rich saffron color soil of the hill ?
How would I know the beauty of the golden sun as it rises and sets?
How would I know the beauty of flowers with colors ?
I am color blind,
I know “beautiful” and “colors” through your eyes and words,
Otherwise it’s a mere black and white sight.

APaintingByMonicaIngudam.jpg

Colors through your eyes

Music of the world 005: “Who am I?” Joel Ansett

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Joel Ansett  , singer and songwriter based in Denver wrote that the songs in his debut album “The NATURE OF US” are all about identity — “Who am I?” and that intrigued me to click through his songs. Don’t we all, at some point in our life search for identity and ask “Who am I?”

Joel Ansett ‘s song “She Walks in Beauty” is a tribute to his mother who has bravely battled breast cancer twice and his lyrics expressed the journey of pain but with strength so well “Oh an army rushes in to tear her flesh, to rob her strength and song, To dull her cheeks and take her hair, but she who walks in beauty walks on”

Going through his song, I was caught by his song “Already in Love” a song I can listen back to back and definitely adding in my playlist. Love the lyrics and the calmness.

What is not to love with a lyrics like this, makes one reflect on Love, unconditional love where one is accepted as is, in a world where you have to fight and stand for who you are, to retain your identity.

…

Even if you change I’ll still be loving on you

I’m in love with who you will be too

Even if there’s a past that you’re too afraid to show

Or a little something secret you don’t want me to know

Take your fears, take your shame, and all your scars

Watch them fade away inside the comfort of your home in my heart

So no matter what you’ve done

And no matter what you do

Feel the healing of a love that’s never leaving you

I’m already in love, with you

Already made you mine,

Never gonna leave your side

I’m already in love, with you.

…

I love his collection of songs, calm and soothing and would love to watch his live performance. Here is a link of my favorite song “Already in Love” in his album “The NATURE OF US”.

MI_S03_withlogoBorn and raised in the violence-torn landscape of the Indian state
Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of the people, people all over the world. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us. Presenting the voices in our series of “Music of the World” sharing music and the thoughts of the artist from all over the world. Contact us to be a part of this series.