S03E08 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Senior Journalist and Author sharing about Manipur.

June 4, 2016July 9, 2016 / Monica Ingudam / 1 Comment

S03E08 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Senior Journalist, Author and founder-director of Reachout Foundation sharing about Manipur.

Guest Speaker : Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee author of “Che in Paona Bazaar” and “Blood on My Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounters”

Language: Interview in English

Location: Delhi, India

We are joined by Senior Journalist and Author, Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, who is the founder-director of Reachout Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan foundation whose main goal is to work on issues around stereotype and discrimination by empowering entry-level journalists. Mr. Kishalay has been with broadcast television for more than twenty two years, seventeen of which he spent at New Delhi Television (NDTV) where he was a Resident Editor covering conflict in India’s North-East as well as in the Maoist corridor. He is a recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award (2006-07) which he was awarded for his coverage of internally displaced people, a Panos Fellow for HIV/AIDS (2007) and an Edward Murrow Fellow in Journalism (2006). As a film maker, Mr. Bhattacharjee has made several documentaries one of which, “Santi, Lucy and Thoibi” was screened at international festivals in Goa and Barcelona.

Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee mentions a few things he loves about Manipur. He is fascinated by the mixture of different cultures, particularly the traditional entities that have a touch of modernism. We discuss in brief about his two books – “Che in Paona Bazaar” and “Blood on My Hands: Confessions of Staged Encounters”. In this interview, Mr. Kishalay Bhattacharjee reveals a horrifying underground activity which is apparently still in practice. His second book contains confessions from army officers and it is sure to shock you if you don’t already know! Why it has not been circulated by the media at large or why it has not become a controversial issue is unknown and rather very surprising. You be the judge!

FindingTheVoices_Kisalay_Delhi2016 (4) - Copy

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/

S03E07 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei: Unity and progress in Manipur.

May 28, 2016July 28, 2016 / Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

S03E07 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei, sharing about his vision of unity and progress in Manipur.

Guest Speaker : Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei

Language: Interview in English

Location: Delhi, India

Here’s the second part of Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei’s interview. The Executive Officer in the Lok Sabha Secretariat continues telling us about his life experience from his college days and the struggles he and his family faced back in those days in the Churachandpur. We find out how Mr. Chung worked hard and what motivated him to face whatever trouble came his way and became the person he is today from the small beginnings. It is very important to have something in life that drives us and motivates us and make us keep going without giving up, something that gives us the strength and enables us to do the impossible in times of difficulties. Mr. Chung was kind enough to share and illustrate a drawing that he pasted on the wall in his room. This drawing and the Bible verse became his source of strength and it helped him get back on track and pass his college exams successfully when he was feeling very down and low.

In this episode, Mr. Chung also tells us a few stories about his early days in the village. He says that even though they were financially very poor, they were emotionally very strong as a family. He also remembers that it was his father who taught him how to dream. We learn from Mr. Chung’s story that even though we come from small beginnings, we are able to achieve and fulfill our dreams if we work hard and never give up. He ends the interview sharing his vision on unity and progress in Manipur.

Catch up the first part of his Interview at S03E06 FINDINGTHEVOICES WITH MR. KHAUTE GINLAL CHUNG VAIPHEI, GROWING UP AT CHURACHANDPUR, MANIPUR.

About FindingTheVoices:

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

S03E06 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei: Growing up at Churachandpur, Manipur.

May 21, 2016July 28, 2016 / Monica Ingudam / 1 Comment

S03E06 FindingTheVoices with Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei, growing up at Churachandpur, Manipur.

Guest Speaker : Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei

Language: Interview in English

Location: Delhi, India

Mr. Khaute Ginlal Chung Vaiphei, currently working as Executive Officer in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, has got an inspirational story to tell us. Born and brought up in Churachandpur, one of the most impoverished districts of India, Mr. Chung Vaiphei has come a long way from humble beginnings to

become the successful man that he is today. He worked very hard and persevered through thick and thin to create a legacy of his own. Mr. Chung Vaiphei has his parents to thank to for giving him one of the most important things in his life–Education. Although his father was deprived of education because of family traditions, Mr. Chung’s parents made sure their children got the best possible education they could provide in the remote village. In this episode, we go down the memory lane with Mr. Chung narrating about his early days in the village and telling us how his father paved the way for a brighter more fruitful life for the family. He also shares about his college days and the hardships he faced during the time–how he had given up his ambitions but got back up in life by carrying on with inner strength and by God’s grace. Tune in to listen to the story of how Mr. Chung cleared all the hurdles in life and finally got the job in Delhi. This is the first part of his interview.

About FindingTheVoices:

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

S03E05 FindingTheVoices with Mr. RK Budhimanta: About RKCS Art Gallery, Manipur (Part 1)

May 14, 2016March 22, 2017 / Monica Ingudam / 2 Comments

FindingTheVoices with Mr. RK Budhimanta, learning about RKCS Art Gallery, Manipur. (Part 1)

Guest Speaker : Mr. RK Budhimanta

Language: Interview in English

Location: RKCS Art Gallery, Imphal, Manipur, India

Established in 1947, the RKCS Art Gallery showcases the beautiful, captivating

and imaginative artworks done by the legendary artist of Manipur, Rajkumar Chandrajitsana Singh. The chain of paintings inside the art studio captures the remarkable genius of the artist himself and each one of his paintings instill

curiosity in our minds and make us wonder what could be the story behind

the portrait. Today, the legacy of the artist is proudly and proficiently carried on by his son, Mr. RK Budhimanta, who is one of the most eminent artists of Manipur.

Mr. RK Budhimanta, the 4th generation artist of the RKCS family, shares stories about the magnificent artist that his father was. From theatre backdrops to movie posters, mythological illustrations to historical accounts, we get to know a lot more in details about the early days of the legendary artist. Mr. RK Budhimanta also shares with us the incident that inspired RKCS to take up the project of depicting the history of Manipur in paintings–the same project that took 10 years of hard work and dedication including vast and in-depth research with the scholars of Manipur.

Apart from these skills, RKCS was also an acrobat and a good wrestler and has even acted in one of the dramas during his early days.

About FindingTheVoices:

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

S03E04 FindingTheVoices with Irene Salam: Women of Manipur – An Alternative Perspective.

May 7, 2016July 28, 2016 / Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

S03E04 FindingTheVoices with Irene Salam, Women of Manipur – An Alternative Perspective.

Guest Speaker : Irene Salam

Language: Interview in English

Location: Imphal, Manipur, India

We get to hear more from Madam Irene Salam, Retd. Professor from Manipur University, as she shares a brief account of the books she has published so far and the projects she has taken part in. She talks about the surprising results of one of her international projects which was to measure the resilience of Manipuris between the age group of 16 to 19.

A known perception in Manipur is that the status of women of Manipur is much higher than that of the rest of India. Her book titled “Women of Manipur – An Alternative Perspective” shows that although the statement is true to a certain extent, it contains a lot of contradictions. Madam Irene shares her findings about her research on the status of women of Manipur. She talks about the spirited nature of the women which gives them the courage to stand at the fore front of any protest and to take action whenever they feel some injustice has been done in the society.

Madam Irene also brings to light the hardships many women of Manipur face in spite of the known perceptions. As an example, she shares about the life of women vendors of Ima Market who have to leave their homes early in the morning without having meals, carrying hefty perishable goods to earn their livelihood. And when they get home, the household responsibilities are again not shared by anyone.

Tune in to listen more to what Madam Irene Salam found on her research on women of Manipur and about the challenges she faced when she came to Manipur for the first time.

Catch up her first part of the interview at S03E03 FindingTheVoices with Irene Salam, Retired Professor from Manipur University

About FindingTheVoices:

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

S03E03 FindingTheVoices with Irene Salam, Retired Professor from Manipur University

April 30, 2016May 5, 2016 / Monica Ingudam / 1 Comment

S03E03 FindingTheVoices with Irene Salam, Retired Professor from Manipur University

Guest Speaker : Irene Salam

Language: Interview in English

Location: Imphal, Manipur, India

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. Born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh and of Goan ethnicity, Madam Irene Salam, retired Professor from Manipur University, shares her account of coming to Manipur for the very first time in the 70’s and getting adjusted to the conditions in the state. It was a moment of total transformation and rejuvenation as everything was a firsthand experience for her, including the food, culture and society of her newly embraced home. Madam Irene recollects her experience on how she got adjusted and settled to the conditions even though she had never seen or heard about Manipur. She also talks about how she patiently overcame the difficulties she faced in teaching the students at Manipur University in the early days because of the language barrier.

We also got to know her view on the impact of frequent bandhs, blockades and curfews on education and about students of the state getting involved in numerous protests. She also talks about how the teachers in the University manage the schedule and examinations despite the disturbances and unpredictable situations.

Madam Irene also shares about a workshop on Historical Research Methodology and starting a project, which was aimed at collecting various historical essays written by different faculty members including her and a number of research scholars.

About FindingTheVoices:

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

Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Danger of a single story from Manipur

December 13, 2015February 7, 2017 / Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

Today, I want to share a video of covered by iValley Talks. This video was shared more than 1 year ago way back in July 2014 with only 596 views. In this video, Kishalay Bhattacharjee talks about the danger of a single story from Manipur. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, an author, a senior journalist who has been with broadcast television for twenty years, seventeen of which he spent at New Delhi Television (NDTV) where he was a Resident Editor covering conflict in India’s North-East. He is a regular columnist and speaker on conflict and post-conflict situations in India.

First of all I would like to thank and recognize the work of Kishalay Bhattacharjee and also to each and every brave journalists reporting the conflicts stories of Manipur. Their reports have given a glimpse to the world of the conflicts and issues of Manipur. In this video, he talks about what and how he has failed to cover other stories, stories which are important in breaking the stereotype image the world sees. He has covered only the images of violence. And in his attempt to cover other stories he has written the books “Che in Paona Bazaar” and “Blood on my hands: Confessions of staged encounters”

He is right, there are a lot of stories which needs to be covered, stories where people rise and celebrate life in the midst of the conflict. There are stories of people working together showing hope, unity, integration and progress in the conflict zone.

People (both government officials and public) working together and rising up. Such stories aren’t covered. But you will see stories of the divide amongst people and people OR people and system, covered in bold with the same title and content (even with the mistakes carried over), being circulated.

Let me give an example. During the flood and landslides calamities in Manipur this year, the people (irrespective of ethnic community) came together reaching out to the people affected in the valley and hills. This was an empowering example of people coming together. Then, there are the army officials who worked very hard in repairing the roads for the people. Where are these stories ? Aren’t these stories important ? There is no divide in this effort and so this story didn’t reach the media.

So yes, I definitely echo that we need to change the single story portrayed in the media. And I am in the quest for FindingTheVoices, I believe that these stories will bring a change and create a positive image of Manipur and positive thinking to many individuals. I believe that this will definitely contribute to change the scenery of the conflict and violence-torn to peace and progress in our society.

Reference: IVALLEY TALKS

098 It’s all in the mind : Second Hand Clothes in Manipur

September 14, 2015October 15, 2015 / Monica Ingudam / 28 Comments

Second Hand Clothes in Manipur

You mock with slandering words,
To those wearing second hand clothes,
You must be the elite one,
Dressed in the way you think the elite does,
Covering your pretense,
Of your origin,
Have you forgotten the makeshift toilet ?
The one you ran with a small bucket ?
Where you held your breath from your own stench ?
Have you forgotten the fasting you did ?
To demand for a new bike which all your friends had ?
Oh! but you didn’t see how your mother ran door to door,
Borrowing money yet again,
Selling the gold earrings her father gave,
To keep up with your elite look,
Covering your economic status,
As you walk on the street,
With the material things you adorn yourself.

I had a blue jacket as a child,
Turning the inside out, it turned to a beautiful bright red jacket with blue borders,
A second hand jacket my grandmother gifted,
Which she meticulously picked amongst the many she saw and compared,
From the open second hand market at Churachandpur in Manipur,
Which was named my foren (foreign) jacket,
That became my favorite,
Many complimented wanting one for themselves,
My grandmother obliged and got more every time she visited,
For friends and neighbors who wanted,
But it was a hush hush matter that it was second hand clothes.

You who maintained the elite look,
Either by the hush hush words,
Or by your demands,
Mocking with slandering words,
How different are you in economic status ?
The status we all strive to rise above.

~The End~

An Experimental attempt to put thoughts in writing by Monica Ingudam.

This poem was written after I read comments amongst the people of hill and valley of Manipur mocking each other, trying to belittle the other making fun of wearing second hand clothes generalizing a community.

097 It’s all in the mind : The Tree at Punshilok

September 12, 2015September 13, 2015 / Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

The Tree at Punshilok

I stood mesmerized by this tree,
With jet black trunk,
Looking rough and strong,
Growing on a hill,
A hill which once was barren,
Nurtured back,
Filling with greens and colors,
With different trees and flowers,
By kind-hearted people,
Believing in the balance of nature,
Rippling love and harmony to the humans,
Even giving a taste of calmness,
If you ever seek to connect back to nature,
Be sure to follow the trail,
Leading to Punshilok in Manipur,
Giving you a chance,
To play with the cold water trickling from the small stream,
To inhale the raw smell of the reddish soil of the hill,
To soak the fresh smell of bamboo leaves,
To lay your eyes on the tree with jet black trunk,
and stand where I stood feeling the creativity pouring out,
Your heart pleading to sit back and watch,
Watch the view of the valley with the green hills tucked behind,
And if you are early you might even catch the sunrise,
The sight which will make your heart seek,
To return yet again.

~The End~

An Experimental attempt to put thoughts in writing by Monica Ingudam.

Dedicating this poem to everyone who have nurtured this hill which was once barren. A great example of change initiated by the people bringing each tiny effort together from planting to cleaning up, and nurturing it back to a green luscious hill. Thanks to everyone at Punshilok, Manipur