S03E23 FindingTheVoices with Koijam Vasunraz: Running away from home. (Part 2)
Guest Speaker : Koijam Vasunraz, Textile entrepreneur, Founder of Manipur Creations. Language: Interview in English
Location: Manipur Creations, Imphal, Manipur, India
In the 1st part of Koijam Vasunraz ’s interview, he shared about his early life on how he got his aspiration to follow his dream of entering the world of business. There was a conflict in his parent’s expectation and his aspirations to follow his dream. Listen to his heartfelt story to know the details of his choice, a difficult choice but brought him closer to his dream. An inspiring story of determination and believing in yourself.
This is the 2nd part of his interview where he shared about how he left his house and eloped with his love coming out to follow his dreams. Listen to his heartfelt story of struggles of survival and how he became a sweeper.
About FindingTheVoices:
Born 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.
Besides being instrumental in setting up one of the most advanced and sophisticated laparoscopic surgeries, endo-urology and endoscopic facilities for the first time in Manipur and the North East region, he is credited with performing some of the most advanced and sophisticated laparoscopic surgeries for the first time in the state and the region.
In this interview he shared about his early life on how he got his aspiration to follow his dream of becoming a surgeon. We spoke about the scene of healthcare and healthcare IT in Manipur. The interview left me with such inspirations to hear about the incredible work and initiative of Shija hospitals in providing healthcare services improving the quality of health and saving lives. I have the utmost respect and remain thankful to such initiative defining the progress of Manipur bringing change in the quality of healthcare for the people.
Source: Shija Hospitals
About FindingTheVoices:
Born 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.
S03E21 FindingTheVoices with Koijam Vasunraz: Your dream or your parent’s expectation?(Part 1)
Guest Speaker : Koijam Vasunraz, Textile entrepreneur, Founder of Manipur Creations. Language: Interview in English
Location: Manipur Creations, Imphal, Manipur, India
Presenting the 1st part of Koijam Vasunraz ’s interview.
Koijam Vasunraz shares about his early life on how he got his aspiration to follow his dream of entering the world of business. There was a conflict in his parent’s expectation and his aspirations to follow his dream. Listen to his heartfelt story to know the details of his choice, a difficult choice but brought him closer to his dream.
An inspiring story of determination and believing in yourself.
About FindingTheVoices:
Born 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.
Chords of Truth
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Styles: Folk/Americana
Chords of Truth brings songs with simple lyrics but such depth which will make you think as you want to hum along. This song Freedom will definitely make you think about Freedom. Everyone talks about freedom. Everyone wants freedom. Everyone is fighting about freedom. What is freedom to you? Chords of truth sings about freedom with a perfect blend of music.
…
Freedom is Freedom is Freedom is oh ya Freedom is undefined
No one can tell you what it means
because it’s a state of mind
…
Listening to this song back to back, I think of Freedom.
Even when you are bonded physically in some situation of your life, you could be free. It’s a state of mind. Your physical freedom could be limited but not your mental freedom. And the physical aspect is only transient. Isn’t it? If freedom is a state of mind, what are you fighting for?
The other song which caught me is the song ““Wonder”
…
I wonder bout the people who can’t seem to see
through their preconceptions that they cling to for life and death
even if it conflicts with what they know deep down to be reasonable
for our progress, for our culture, for our future
…
It makes me think about Manipur, my hometown filled with conflicts, anger and hatred, such hatred where the people continue fighting with each other showing their power within what they could control. But deep down I am sure when darkness strikes and insomnia seizes you, you do think about the daily wage worker, the old women vendors who had to leave the vegetables they grew over time, fleeing with fear and chaos created, the laborers and the whole lot of people who suffers at the cost of the Bandh you have enforced for your protest, to get justice. And then you convince yourself that you are doing it for our progress, for our culture, for our future. You want to be reasonable but are you?
Born 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.
S03E20 FindingTheVoices with RK Ranendrajit: How are you going to define peace in Manipur?(Part 4)
Guest Speaker :RK Ranendrajit, Social Activist, a former fighter pilot of the IAF and former editor of Freedom in Manipur. Language: Interview in Meteilon
Location: Bir Tikendrajit Memorial complex, Manipur, India
Presenting the 4th part of RK Ranendrajit ’s interview.
In this episode, former fighter pilot and social activist, RK Ranendrajit talks about the conflict situations in Manipur, the notorious Armed Forces Special Powers Act prevalent in the state that has left the people getting alienated from the rest of the country. He says that even though there have been a few positive changes in the last few decades, the Right to Life for the people of Manipur has always been debatable.
Although there have been numerous protests by the citizens, the Government still remains to ignore the plea and cry of the people. As a result of these situations, the resistance from the people started as they began to worry about what kind of future their children are destined for in the state. He says that the Government of India has plans to exploit the resources and talents of the state as part of Indianzation and assimilation but they have failed in getting the people’s support and serving their needs.
When we asked RK Ranendrajit about our show and requested him for a little feedback and some advice, he responded by saying that the show has been doing a very good thing by bringing out the thoughts, ideas and views of the people and the ground reality. He says that the show brings out the notable personalities of Manipur and spread their knowledge. He also stressed the importance of documentation and archiving.
Lastly, he expressed his views on the peaceful forms of protests in Manipur against AFSPA and other conflicts citing Irom Sharmila Chanu as an example. He also mentioned about the fake encounters in Manipur that the armed forces carry out whenever they feel that the people are gaining momentum in the struggle against AFSPA. This is somehow similar to what senior journalist Kishalay Bhattacharjee mentioned during his interview with us while speaking about his book on confessions of army officers.
Born 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.
S03E19 FindingTheVoices with RK Ranendrajit: Sedition and Freedom in Manipur (Part 3)
Guest Speaker :RK Ranendrajit, Social Activist, a former fighter pilot of the IAF and former editor of Freedom in Manipur. Language: Interview in Meteilon
Location: Bir Tikendrajit Memorial complex, Manipur, India
Presenting the third part of RK Ranendrajit ’s interview..
Former fighter pilot and social activist, RK Ranendrajit talks about the development of sports in Manipur and the need to hunt for young talent and groom the upcoming generations. He stressed the need to sustain a very good infrastructure in sports so that the level of competition is in par with international standards. He also emphasized the importance of providing sufficient funds in the sports department in Manipur so that there would be enough staffs and leaders who could carry on sports management and development for the future generations.
RK Ranendrajit also talks about the gutsy newspaper daily, Freedom. The press was established on 12th December, 1992 but discontinued from the first week of February, 2001 because of constant opposition by the Government of Manipur. He was charged of sedition by the Government citing an article that he published during the 90’s as being rebellious. However, he was acquitted and the sedition charges were dropped after 17 years by the court. He has faced similar situations in the past. During his time in the Indian Air Force serving as a fighter pilot, RK Ranendrajit’s integrity was questioned and he was put under constant surveillance by the organization as his brother, RK Meghen alias Sanayaima, was the chairman of the banned insurgent group United National Liberation Front. Then in Manipur, the Government tainted the reputation of the institute by getting the school raided in the middle of the night under suspicion of being a revolutionary school.
Tune in to this episode to listen to RK Ranendrajit expressing how he feels about all these incidents in his life. Apart from these dark spots, he also talks about the positive changes that have come about.
Born 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.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration, a day of freedom for Irom Sharmila Chanu when she broke her 16 years of fast. I watched the news coverage with her smiling coyly as she expressed that she would prefer to break her fast with honey rather than the water people suggested. Media from all over the world flew to Manipur to cover this important moment, a date which will be marked in the history.
With her newfound freedom, she must have expected a very different experience moving around freely after 16 years. I cannot imagine her level of excitement at that moment. Growing up in Manipur my freedom was very limited within the walls of my parents house, my school and books. My parents accompanied me everywhere in the name of the conflicts and the situations. I experienced a simple rickshaw ride alone very recently and I felt free and was very excited. So I can only imagine how excited she must have felt to move freely after being confined for such a long time.
But the reaction and harsh unwelcoming words from some small section of people that evening broke her heart leaving a very very bad taste. It’s hard to watch her break down. This video (Courtesy:newslaundry) stuck with me and it’s in my head. She doesn’t deserve to cry like this specially on her day, a day which should have been filled with celebrations. And yes, I stand in shame for such treatment and humiliation she had to go through on the day she set herself free, a day she could walk around freely after 16 very long years.
Yes, there may be a difference of opinion. Yes some of her comments and the way she said or did, might have hurt many because you truly supported her from your perspective. But your immediate action of rejection and outrage makes everyone question your kind of support. She must have her reasons for what she said or did. Can’t we all put everything aside, be the bigger one for a bit and see her as a human? Did it need to be resolved or dissolve at her moment leaving such a bitter taste, hurting even more? Where has our empathy gone? Where has our patience gone?
And the words that followed. Such mockery belittling her honest and genuine effort making many question the existence of humanity in Manipur. And the discussions comparing her with Martyr with an open disapproving note of her decision clearing inferring the preference to die? What kind of example and precedence are we setting for the youth where we glorify and elevate the dead over the living? Does one have to die for the glory and elevation?
Such intolerance drives me to seek out my quest to feature kind, strong voices and gestures to get her strength and smile. Words can make or break a person. Kind encouraging words and gestures can be very powerful elevating the strength of a human soul. I hold to many words I received giving me the strength to go through trying times.
Also the wide-spread coverage of a blanket statement that Manipur has shunned Irom Sharmila have challenged me to seek out for her well wishers and change that narrative and prove them wrong. I don’t agree with the Media reporting that the whole of #Manipur is shunning Irom Sharmila .
We come from a society where we aren’t comfortable or encouraged to speaking out our feelings but now is the time to speak out. Eche Sharmila needs us and we need to change the narrative for Manipur.
“You are not alone” a series of FindingTheVoices dedicated to Irom Sharmila Chanu of Manipur. #ISupportIromSharmila
I want to believe in the strong presence of humanity in the people of Manipur, let’s change the portrayed low ebb of humanity in Manipur!
Monica Ingudam, founder of FindingTheVoices, a talk show presenting voices from different parts of the globe with the vision to promote and spread Inspiring, Educative, Empowering and Entertaining stories in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur.
"You are not alone" a series of FindingTheVoices
dedicated to Irom Sharmila Chanu of Manipur.
#ISupportIromSharmila
Tampha Oinam Gupta "We need more people like Irom Sharmila for Manipur"
Irom Sharmila Chanu says she is misunderstood by the people and she needs voice of moral support.
FindingTheVoices is reaching out to you for your voice, please contact us to participate in this series of interviews.
About FindingTheVoices: Born 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/
Tampha Oinam Gupta "We need more people like Irom Sharmila for Manipur"
FINDINGTHEVOICES 