Season 1 Audio Podcasting

Episode 023 FindingTheVoices : Samurailatpam Sanahanbi Devi Social Activist, Cancer Survivor, Veteran Athlete and Best Mother from Manipur

/ Monica Ingudam / 7 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It is a great honour to celebrate “International Women’s Day 2013” hearing the story from 80 year old Samurailatpam Sanahanbi Devi, retired Lecturer Botany, Ex Principal DM College Commerce, Cancer survivor, Veteran athlete and Social worker and Activist from Manipur.

She shares her story of how she was mis diagnosed in Manipur when she initially went to consult Doctors. She was given medication based on the symptoms given by her, the doctor DIDNOT check her body, there was no x-ray or any follow up. Later, when he was in Delhi, it was found that she has colon Cancer and she came out as a cancer survivor after her surgery. Listen to her amazing story on her journey going through such hard times as a family.

Before being diagnosed with colon cancer, Sanahanbi participated in the half marathon 21 kms at the Asian Veteran Sports Championship held in China and won the gold medal. Listen to her interesting incident of getting lost 🙂

She also came fourth in 42 kms full marathon held at the world veteran championship Brisbane, Australia. It is amazing to hear how she completed 42 kms , the joy and excitement of people once she reached the destination.

She has very interesting broad outlook on diversity and mixed marriage, on love and relationships. She was awarded Best Mother 2002 in Manipur. This is an amazing treat to listen to her. She even shares how she met and got married.  She is involved in many Social organizations (Nupi Yaipha Lup, Advisor of Manipur State Pensioners association etc.) and remains active in participating many social causes(Look at her picture participating in the Protest against the Gang Rape in Delhi) at her age. Hats off to her, we have a lot of things to learn from her.

It is such a pleasure listening to her story and I love the way she tells it with her infectious laughter.

Music: Nuja Kanagee Chenglouno Chenglouno by N. Pahari (This was a very popular songs during the time Ema Sanahanbi was growing up and she had mentioned it very fondly during the interview)

Episode 022 FindingTheVoices : Mali Phonpadith, a poet, author and entrepreneur all the way from Laos to America

/ Monica Ingudam / 3 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Presenting Mali Phonpadith, a poet, author and entrepreneur, born in Laos during the Vietnam War. She shares her journey of a refugee from Laos all the way to America. Mali was only four years old when she and her family fled Laos to live in America. Her parents and grandmother had to find their way through the language barrier, the challenges of adapting to a new life in a foreign country raising their children. Immigrants have lots to co-relate in her story. Mali’s shares her world of love, pain and spiritual awakening. Listen to her sharing her thoughts on AFSPA in Manipur. Also she shares her love for Loas food.
In her book, A Million Fireflies, internationally award-winning poet Mali Phonpadith takes us on a journey of love and loss, incorporating both poetry and real life stories to give voice to the true language of a heart that has seen much, felt deeply and survived to shine. Mali’s Eastern sense of balance and heritage coupled with a strong spirit of individual freedom lend the narrative a searching authenticity. With her words, she honors the legacy of family, celebrates the lasting presence of loved ones and reveals a true freedom. Touching on a truth deeper than grief, A Million Fireflies illuminates the resilience of the creative human spirit.
Mali Phonpadith’s “A Million Fireflies” book tour will launch in early 2013 with host commitments from supporters throughout the United States, including New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Florida. Internationally, she has secured hosts in Spain, Italy, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Laos.
Music used in this Podcast: “Fade Away”: Lyrics by Mali Phonpadith. The music arrangement by Joe Sinclair. Our band’s name is “View from the Moon”. This is the rough cut and Mali is the singer here.

Episode 021 FindingTheVoices : Halley Laithangbam the successful male model from Manipur in the glamour Industry

/ Monica Ingudam / 12 Comments

021 FindingTheVoices Halley Laithangbam the successful male model from Manipur in the glamour Industry

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Today I am with a Guest Speaker where many listeners have requested to have him at our show from the very beginning when we just started our talk show. And here he is at our 21st episode, we are proud to present Halley Laithangbam, the successful male model with cute dimple baby smiles from Manipur who has captured himself in national and international platform in glamour industry.

Driven by self motivation and passionate in chasing his dream, Halley started modeling at the age of 17. With a name like Halley , it gave him a noted stand when he entered the field. His revolutionary looks, macho body but cute dimple baby smiles made him most lovable and successful model . Halley bagged numerous titles including MR.PUNE CITADEL 2010 MAN-HUNT MANIPUR 2002 MR.SURYADATTA 2005 and achieved many other prizes in different fashion related events.

Listen to Halley sharing his interesting journey of getting into the glamour industry. He also shares his view about the financial aspect of modelling.

What I am hearing is that in the fashion Industry, Manipuri look is well accepted. But it may be difficult to get a break in Bollywood and Indian Movie Industry as the Characters in Bollywood movies doesn’t call for Manipuri look . Bollywood Wake up !!

Episode 020 FindingTheVoices : Ingudam Tomba Singh 80 year old man sharing his journey of getting education growing up from his Village Oinam in Manipur

/ Monica Ingudam / 6 Comments

020 FindingTheVoices Ingudam Tomba Singh 80 year old Man sharing his journey of getting his education growing up from his Village Oinam in Manipur

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This is one of the most difficult and special podcast for me.

Today we have a very interesting story from an almost 80-year-old man. He shares about his earlier life growing up from Oinam village in Manipur and walking 3 miles to go to school at Nambol everyday after he does his chores of farming. He started farming at a very young age and explains the process of farming using a cow. He used Hay and ash to wash off the muddy feet and run to attend school on time. In his locality, he was known for walking so quickly that people can’t see his feet touching the ground.   I am proud to present his wonderful story about growing up from a village and how he strived to study against all odds and proving how important EDUCATION is. He wouldn’t care and gave up materialistic items, but made sure that all his 4 children are educated inspite of the financial constraints, treating sons and daughters equally. I believe in EEMUL : Ema Epa Mitna Uba Laini (Parents are living God) and yes he is my living God.   I am blessed to have the honour to talk with Ingudam Tomba Singh, retired from Lilong Houreibi College and Vice Principal from Oriental College, Imphal and my Father. And I thank FindingTheVoices for such a wonderful special moment where my Father is sharing his story and I came to know things which I didn’t know earlier.

He had to stop going to his school for 2 years as they were not able to effort his education and that left him totally heart-broken. He was and is  a person who believes in education. He was so heart-broken that he was smoking during that 2 years phase to cope up at that very young age of 1o years old. This was during the time of 2nd world war and as I was growing up he told many interesting stories about what the war and Japanese soldiers. Growing up, there was no electricity in his house and studying was mostly during daylight or using light from burning wood call uchan and from Kerosene lamp called podon.

He completed his school and went to D.M College and became teacher at Johnston Higher Secondary School. His first salary is Rs 100 per month as a teacher from Johnston Higher Secondary School and in those time that was a huge amount and had lot of value. He completed his Masters from Gauhati University and then started teaching at Digboi College in Assam. Later he came to Manipur and continued in teaching profession as a Lecturer in Zoology and Vice Principal at Oriental college, Imphal and retired from Lilong Houreibi College.

I really admire his honesty, keeping time and his word, most importantly his value of raising and educating his kids without any difference of gender. And we plan to have more episodes to follow and talk about raising, educating and treating kids equally without any differences based on Gender.

This podcast is in Meitei Lon (Manipuri) Language.

Episode 019 FindingTheVoices : Hemanta Khuman, Director/Assistant Director of Manipuri Musical Videos and Movies

/ Monica Ingudam / 9 Comments

019 FindingTheVoices Hemanta Khuman Director and Assistant Director of Manipuri Musical Videos and Movies, featuring Kaina Peerang

HemantaKhuman (11)I am proud to present the voice of a very young Director of Manipuri Musical Video and Movies, Hemanta Khuman. Recently I saw this beautiful Manipuri Music Video “Kaina Peerang” and I was Zapped, in less than 6 minutes there is a beautiful passionate tragic love story with a perfect blend of manipuri ethnic wears with the modern look, beautiful star cast, beautiful scenic location with a beautiful song… it’s awesome, Congratulations to Hemanta Khuman and your team. Great Work !!! Hemanta Khuman worked as Assistant director for Phijigee Mani, the movie received Best Regional Film Award in Manipuri language at the 59th National Film awards for the year . Hemanta works very closely under the guidance of Director Oinam Gautam

FindingTheVoices is proud to feature Kaina Peerang , the video musical which caught my eye and lead me to search for the person behind this. We see all these wonderful work and never get to hear the voice of people behind the scene, and one of the goal for FindingTheVoices is to hear the voices of people behind the scenes to create such wonderful work. This podcast episode covers his experience in making of this video from the young 23 year old Director. Hemanta promised that he will come up with strong Character woman in future where the woman is strong and don’t end up dying 🙂

Thanks to all the Team members of Kaina Peerang in making this wonderful Manipuri Video musical.

  • Cast: Soma n Dekey
  • Singer: Pratima n Suren
  • Lyrics: Abung  wai
  • Music: Rahul
  • Make up: Jenny Khurai n Russia
  • Costume: Galif Pa
  • Camera: Mohon Kangla
  • Asst Camera: Danao
  • Director: Hemanta Khuman

Episode 018 FindingTheVoices : Part 2 Vik Sorensangbam 3D Character Artist at Montreal, Canada

/ Monica Ingudam / 4 Comments

018 FindingTheVoices Part 2 Vik Sorensangbam 3D Character Artist at Montreal Canada

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This podcast episode is dedicated to all my student listeners, this is a great story of taking up the career option as a 3D Character Artist. How would it be to design 3D Characters for games, even better play games to test it out, watch movies and play more games to keep up with technologies & strategy. What an amazing career option !! How many of us come back from work and play games for fun and Vik does it for work and he gets PAID 🙂 How cool is that ? And it is a lovely story of romance finally settled with his Girl friend and blessed with a beautiful daughter. It is important to remember the struggles and hardship a person goes through to achieve success. Also what you do and like as a child plays a very important role in shaping your career and moving towards what you like in future.

Part 1 focuses in the beginning & struggles of Vic in shaping up his career covering many aspect of life from being a Body Builder, not knowing anything about Computer to becoming a 3D Character Artist in Montreal all the way from Manipur, struggles in getting loans for his education, experiencing lay off, running around for getting visa….. Please listen to this episode if you haven’t yet !!!

This episode covers the details of his career discussing about very interesting technologies like 3D printing etc and details of his interesting career aspect going deeper into how he comes up with his design and aspirations …

Please check out his website at Vik3D.com and his Facebook page. Also check out VFS featuring his journey and E-PAO featuring brief overview of our lovely state Manipur to the west world.

Episode 017 FindingTheVoices : Part 1 Vik Sorensangbam 3D Character Artist at Montreal, Canada

/ Monica Ingudam / 13 Comments

017 FindingTheVoices Part 1 Vik Sorensangbam 3D Character Artist at Montreal Canada

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I am proud to present the voice of Vik Sorensangbam 3D Character Artist Montreal, Canada.

This podcast episode is dedicated to all my student listeners, this is a great story of taking up the career option as a 3D Character Artist. How would it be to design 3D Characters for games, even better play games to test it out, watch movies and play more games to keep up with technologies & strategy. What an amazing career option !! How many of us come back from work and play games for fun and Vik does it for work and he gets PAID 🙂 How cool is that ? And it is a lovely story of romance finally settled with his Girl friend and blessed with a beautiful daughter.

This episode focuses in the beginning & struggles of Vic in shaping up his career covering many aspect of life from being a Body Builder, not knowing anything about Computer to becoming a 3D Character Artist in Montreal all the way from Manipur, struggles in getting loans for his education, experiencing lay off, running around for getting visa…..

It is important to remember the struggles and hardship a person goes through to achieve success. Also what you do and like as a child plays a very important role in shaping your career and moving towards what you like in future.

Please watch out for the next episode to continue listening to Vik’s journey and details of his career discussing about very interesting technologies like 3D printing etc. Part 2 will focus on details of his interesting career aspect …

Please check out his website at Vik3D.com and his Facebook page. Also check out VFS featuring his journey.

Episode 015 FindingTheVoices : 015 FindingTheVoices Sameeta Angom founder of Sameeta’s Spa & Salon and Sameeta’s Nails & Pedispa at Texas, USA

/ Monica Ingudam / 9 Comments

015 FindingTheVoices Sameeta Angom founder of Sameeta’s Spa & Salon and Sameeta’s Nails & Pedispa at Texas, USA

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Presenting Sameeta Angom originally from Manipur, a mother of 2 wonderful kids, started Sameeta’s Spa and Salon and Sameeta’s Nails & Pedispa at Houston, Texas, USA. She has many people working for her and she plans to expand her business adding more location in future. We had a very interesting talk which shows the importance of partnership, support and teamwork from your better half, balancing work and family life, glimpse of life running a Salon finding different strategy of marketing, employee management, customer services etc. a wonderful journey going through interesting turns in life from being a stay at home mom to starting a business of her own. Who would know a Botony Major would end up being a Cosmetologist?

Her Salon offers very reasonable prices for many different Spa, Salon, Nails and Pedispa services and has very interesting deals always, check out the price at her website.

Episode 014 FindingTheVoices : Assault of Manipuri film actress Momoco Khangembam by NSCN-IM cadre Livingstone Anal

/ Monica Ingudam / 8 Comments

014 FindingTheVoices Assault of Manipuri film actress Momoco by NSCN-IM cadre Livingstone

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Today I am with Khangembam Rosnia, popularly known as Momoco, Manipuri Film Actress. She is only 21 years old now but had to step up taking responsibility of helping out financially at a very young age when she was in 11th Grade  after her father became sick.  It is very important to note that Artists in Manipur are not paid very well, it cannot be compared with Bollywood or Hollywood at all. The meager income she gets from acting in movies, Video musical songs and hosting helps in running her family supporting her father who is struggling back and forth from Hospital.

The best thing I like about her is that , in spite of all these heavy responsibilities at a young age, she continued  juggling with Studies and Acting and has graduated BSc(BioChemistry & Botany) from DM college, Manipur and plan to continue with Her Masters. I strongly believe in education and I am glad to see that she is pursuing her education.

Momoco was hosting as programme announcer for a fund raising musical concert at Chandel district by Mahamani Women’s Society. NSCN-IM cadre Livingstone Anal pulled her down from the chair and started kicking her continuously towards her face.  Livingstone tried to kill another two artistes (Singer Prakash Soraisham & Actor Guna who came running to rescue her). Livingstone fired at point blank range but they escaped unhurt.  All this because Momoco didn’t encourage his behaviour of talking, touching her hair and body. Momoco went there to do her work to support her livelihood and not to sell her body. What is chilling to hear is that when these terrible incident happened there were police personnel and more than 100 people were present but nobody came to help except some womenfolks. All the men were standing like a statue.

We strongly condemned the brutal act of Livingstone and want necessary legal actions is taken against him.

Today Momoca shares with us the incident in detail …