Imphal

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY Chitra Salam

/ Monica Ingudam / 2 Comments

Mom’s Name & profession: Chitra Salam, daughter of reknown – Salam Rajdhon Singh,  She worked in her earlier days,now she is more of housewife though she does business as well.

My mom is superb cool at same time she has her own traditions & Values, raising up 3 kids while being a working mom is like a lot. She has done a lot for all 3 of us, I really like the fact that she is a bit emotional person so she goes little far to help anyone in needs. In several occasion I never use to understand why she even bother, but guess when you do good, you feel good. It’s not about explaining to anyone, it’s all about making yourself bit different from the rest by giving that tiny contribution which is ignorable. Because of her such quality I am what I am today, I don’t stop myself from doing what I love to do. She made me realised the beauty of being selfless, that’s like joy within my heart. She has been a pillar to dad and all 3 of us, the house does’t run without this woman. While growing up, dad was busy with his scheduled she took extra effort to see what we where up to, while we where miles away from them. Now when I think of it, I am like OMG she does a lot of things which I can’t even imagine.

For all the kindest, I thank you my mom, mama – to the world she might not be known but to me she is my coolest mom. Yea yea we do fight a lot as well but that’s pretty normal between me and her. But I love the most when she come up to me and make up. Sometime she come across has one of those person who listen to my woes and not so good phase in life. No matter she tells me, Gia Papa and Me are their to catch u(that literally makes me in tears).

Well, to think of it I am proud of her that she handle all 3 of us quite well, we were very rebellious and unmanageable kids. I do know in course of time, I have hurt you but same time I realised there is always a story of you and me that can never end for that unconditional and divine love we have. So I just wanna express my freedom thought for you – I love you no matter said and done.

Always,

Gia xxxx

Submitted by :Gia Haobam, A fashion blogger based out in Bengaluru, India .

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY Kamala Sairem

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Mom’s Name & profession: Kamala Sairem, Stay home mom

What do you appreciate in your MOM and want to say Thank you for ?

I appreciate my mom’s high spirited nature and she is the best cook. I want to thank her for teaching me all the basic things of life from the beginning till now and making me a better person everyday.

Any moment you want to say sorry about ?

I’m sorry for not helping you physically and mentally after dad’s accident, living far away from home for further studies, job prospect and now settling down to a new country.

Submitted by : Surjarani Sairem, IT Services Team Lead, Currently Stay home mom + full time student, Montreal, Canada.

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY Aruna Thangjam

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Mom’s Name & profession: Aruna Thangjam,  home-maker and a very active Social Activist.
I want to appreciate all the qualities that make Her a perfect woman, a wife and a mother. Throughout my life, She have bestowed so many gifts upon me I scarcely know where to begin. She have always been at my side, and have always been my biggest defender and ally, no matter what the odds. She have always been my cheering section, my therapist, my shoulder to cry on. She give so much, never once asking for anything in return. Having a mother like Her while growing up was the greatest gift and biggest advantage anyone could ever have given me. It is because of the confidence and values that she instilled in me that made me who I am today. I want to thank her for shaping me into a person who I like and am proud to be. And also want to thank her for letting us believe that we could be whoever we wanted to be, do whatever we wanted to do, there were no limitations except our drive, ambition and creativity.
Thank you mom for being so smart, so beautiful, so wise and so talented. It’s nice to know that I have the potential somewhere in my genetics to possibly one day be as special as you.
Mom, the words “I love you” are not adequate enough to express how grateful I am to be your Son, how much you are appreciated or how much you will always mean to me, so I will simply say: Thank you mom for being my Mother.

Submitted by : Bijou Thaangjam – Freelance Stylist, Actor and Self-taught Chef. Mumbai, India.

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY Laitonjam Leibaklotpi Devi

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Mom’s Name & profession: Laitonjam (o) Leibaklotpi Devi, Cashier at Manipur Rural Bank, Imphal

What do you appreciate in your MOM and want to say Thank you for?

I just want to thank her for being there for me. She doubts if she’s a good mother coz at times she finds it hard to have family time coz of her work but as I grew up I know how much she has inspired me to strive for the best. Thank you for molding me into the woman I am today, for being such a powerful and empowered woman, for being an inspiration.

Any moment you want to say sorry about?

Well, it is indeed a blessing to know that there’s always this one person who bears no grudge and always hold on to me inspite of all the awful things I said. Being this impatient person that I am, I often lose patience and speak many things which I regret later. I just want to say sorry for all the impulsive words and for spilling over my frustrations to you.

“I love you Mama, Thank you for the miracle of life!”

Submitted by :Laitonjam Valentina, PhD Scholar (Human Development) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.

HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY Mankhanniang Zou

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“My Mom kept a garden for me”

My Mother kept a garden,
a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
that gave my life it’s start. 
She turned me to the sunshine
and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem… 
And when the winds and rain came,
she protected me enough-
But not too much because she knew
I’d need to stand up strong and tough. 
Her constant good example
always taught me right from wrong-
Markers for my pathway
that will last a lifetime long. 
I am my Mother’s garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me 

Mom’s Name & profession: Mankhanniang Zou, House Wife (My Mom is good in cooking and she is a responsible Mother)

My appreciation being my mom is that she never gives up in me and to my brother and sisters. The love that my mom owed to us is the treasures which no one can discover she is always my hero. The words that my mom taught me, the courage that she offered me, the boundless love that she gave, the desire my mom have in me is incredible. I love her so much; my mom is my Worldly God.

Even when I makes a mistakes she don’t ignored me nor she rejected me and encourage me to be a better person through my mistakes. She struggle her life only for us (her 2 son’s and 4 daughters’). My mom is the one who feel the most pain when I am failures, and she is the one who can be happy at the most when I am success in life.

Nothing is comparable with my mom. When no one loves me, when no one wants to accompany with me, when no one forgive me, Mom is still there for me; hug me and say “ its ok my dear”!!!

The most things I would like to give thanks to my mom is that “a prayer to God that she always pray for me and for my brothers’ and sisters’ which she still keep praying till today” and “thanks God for blessing my Mom and Dad; living with us till today”

I am sorry mom to make you suffer; your sacrifice for my educations till today. But I promise I will make you happy someday, I pray to God Mom and Dad will live long and pluck the fruit that you planned on me. We may be from rural places, a farmer family (where there is no electricity, no mobile network, and no puce road) but someday your son’s will lead you to urban life where everything will work with electronic. I am not a shame to be what I am today,; Its cuz of you Mom, I am proud to have such a Mother Like you…!!!

“I LOVE YOU MOM”

Submitted by :Khamlianlal (Khams Zotal), Student social worker from Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Episode 025 FindingTheVoices Part 2 Shanti Thokchom originally from Manipur sharing her struggles, lost, healing and life in America as a Single Mother

/ Monica Ingudam / 9 Comments

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This podcast is a continuation of last week’s podcast with Shanti Thokchom, who is working as a Nursing Assistant in an old age Home in Oklahoma in United States. In part 1 she shared about going through very hard times with her journey from Manipur all the way to America, going through her separation and lost of her husband.

In this episode, she shares about her life as a single Mother. She is a strong single mother, the rock for her precious little boy working very hard to secure the best future for her son.

She shares very interesting story of learning how to drive in America, her travelling experience within America as a healing process coping up with her loss.

Many immigrants in America can associated the struggle and fear in learning and driving in the freeways in America. And this lady travels all over without a GPS (still using paper Maps!!), sleeps in the car, travels with basic needs. It is a great learning experience to learn from her that you don’t need a lot of money to travel if you are passionate about travelling and seeing different places. All you need is the Gas money. She shares that she lives within her means and don’t need to dine in any fancy restaurants or stay in expensive Hotels or wear any branded clothes.

It was a great honour to talk with Eche Shanti, such a wonderful woman with so much positive vibes.

Music: Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko from yaadon ki baraat (This was a very popular songs during the time Eche Shanti was growing up and her favorite song)

Episode 024 FindingTheVoices Part 1 Shanti Thokchom originally from Manipur sharing her struggles, lost, healing and life in America as a Single Mother

/ Monica Ingudam / 23 Comments

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Today I am with Shanti Thokchom, who is working as a Nursing Assistant in an old age Home in Oklahoma in the United States. I really admire her strength and positive attitude towards life even after having gone through very hard times with her journey from Manipur all the way to America, going through different jobs of a private nurse, nanny, working in a daycare, working as a waitress, her separation and lost of her husband. Inspite of all the hardship, she pursued to get license to work as Nursing Assistant. She is a strong single mother, the rock for her precious little boy working very hard to secure the best future for her son.

She has a very interesting diverse background with a Hindu Meitei father and a Christian Kuki mother and she married an American. She shares her story about living with the differences in diversity and having stayed and travelled in different places in the world.

It was a great honour to talk with Eche Shanti, such a wonderful woman with so much positive vibes.

Music: Louri Chatpi by P Chandrakumar (This was a very popular songs during the time Eche Shanti was growing up and her favorite song)

About FindingTheVoices

/ Monica Ingudam / 3 Comments

Welcome to FindingTheVoices.

Today I am sharing about FindingTheVoices. It is a short presentation less than 3 minutes which gives the details about FindingTheVoices.

Thanks to all our listeners for all your support. Please keep your request for Guest Speakers, feedback and wonderful comments coming in.

Thanks to Hanubi Hanuba for the music. I love this music.

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

/ Monica Ingudam / 7 Comments

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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)