Manipur

S02E04 FindingTheVoices: Imphal Talkies, The folk rock band from Imphal, Manipur.

/ Monica Ingudam / 7 Comments

S02E04 FindingTheVoices: Imphal Talkies, The folk rock band from Imphal, Manipur.

Guest Speakers: Irom Singthoi, Sachidananda Angom, Akhu Chingangbam

Interview Location: Imphal, Manipur, India.

Language: Podcast in English.

Many of our listeners have requested to have Imphal Talkies in our show and it took us more than a year to finally coordinate the show. It was really nice to meet the team and hear their story.

Imphal Talkies was formed in 2008 by Akhu Chingangbam with Sachidananda Angom and Riki Chingangbam. The band released its debut album Tiddim Road in 2009. The band releases its music under its own record label Oomorock Records. Raju Athokpam, a software engineer, joined the band in 2009 March. The band dedicated a song “Eche” in 2010 to Irom Sharmila, a lady who has been on hunger strike since November 2000 as an act protest demanding the repeal of the draconian act, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. The Imphal Music Project was conceived by Akhu to create a platform among artists from Indian sub continent. Irom Singthoi is the latest addition to the band.

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FindingTheVoices brings voices and story that Inspire, Empower, Educate & Entertain us from people all over the world.. It is a talk show presented by Monica Ingudam with the vision to promote and spread positive, hopeful, inspiring & entertaining stories in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur.

This is your show to promote your talents & work, share your experiences and voice what you stand for, what you believe in, what you want people to know & talk about….

Special thanks to Akee Sorokhaibam and my sweet sisters of M4 Girls who have been a part in the making of this Episode.

 

Become a sponsor of FindingTheVoices

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Become a sponsor and help support our production for our talk show, help us in getting more stories and more voices.

We have a very young team (from Manipur) supporting us with recording, editing and coordinating our show. The fund will go towards the cost for production for our talk show.

We appreciate and welcome any amount of contribution, we don’t believe in setting any amount, it’s how much you can contribute. As a sponsor of our show, we will include you in our sponsor list which will be published in our website and video podcast.

Please help in Finding The Voices, bringing the voices from our own people which are inspiring, educative, empowering and entertaining. Let’s get together, spread positivity in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur and show the world the talents of Manipur. And most importantly have some fun and laugh too. Why complain we are not featured or covered in the media world, let’s make our own. Join us and make FindingTheVoices your own platform.

Thank you for all your support and help.

Become a sponsor of FindingTheVoices

Become a sponsor of FindingTheVoices

S02E03 FindingTheVoices: Career choice from Botany to the world of Marketing and Business development

/ Monica Ingudam / 5 Comments

S02E03: Career choice from Botany to the world of Marketing and Business development.

Guest Speaker : Ramina Haorokcham joining from Shanghai, China
Phone Interview: Washington DC, USA and Shanghai, China
Language: Podcast in English.

Ramina Haorokcham shares about her career introducing us to the world of advertising, marketing and Business development. She shares her studying and working experience in India as well as China. She started out with Botany and ended up in the media world fighting through her career aspiration and chasing her dreams in spite of her parent’s expectation to pursue into the line of IAS.  Watch her share about her experiences, challenges and satisfaction in her line of career.

One of our goal is to give student and parents an opportunity to hear from our own people about different career and job options. This will help to widen the young minds of Manipur to hear about other line of work. I have spoken to many students and the general perception of career option are limited to becoming a Doctor, Engineer or IAS officer. Other options are not much known amongst students as well as parents. Also there is the craze and pressure to join extensive coaching classes and wait for 2 to 4 years to get into the medical entrance exam. And within this span, there are many who would become depressed with low self-esteem, loose focus and stray away. We encourage that students go in the line which they have aspirations and interest in rather than being forced or pressured into the line of career parents believe in.

MI_5FindingTheVoices brings voices and story that Inspire, Empower, Educate & Entertain us from people all over the world.. It is a talk show presented by Monica Ingudam with the vision to promote and spread positive, hopeful, inspiring & entertaining stories in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur.

This is your show to promote your talents & work, share your experiences and voice what you stand for, what you believe in, what you want people to know & talk about….

S02E02 FindingTheVoices: How do your react when someone calls you a Chinky or use any derogatory terms ?

/ Monica Ingudam / 3 Comments

S02E02 FindingTheVoices: How do your react when someone calls you a Chinky or use any derogatory terms ?

Guest Speakers: Bobo Hijam, Lukhoi Sougaijam, Linthoi Angom

Language: English.
Interview Location : Washington DC, USA.

With many cases of racism and incidents in India where the North East people of India are teased, questioned, called Chinky and other derogatory terms I had posted  “Yes we hear the word “Chinky” very often. Lot of people including myself try and take it sportingly to survive and blend in, not to cause any trouble (for we have seen time and again that we will loose fighting back and be alienated and chose to focus to study/work, the reason why we came out from Manipur) but you should know that deep inside we don’t like it”

And one of the response was “I use “Chinky” for people from North East India like using Gujju for Gujarati, Bong for Bengali, Mallu for Malayali, I didn’t think it was offensive. If it is I will stop”

This response (ignorance that it’s a derogatory term) inspired me to do this episode to share our experience, thoughts, ways of coping up and mechanism we had opted to survive such situations, situations we wish we didn’t have to face but we are facing.

There are many young students coming out to escape the conflict, including myself, to pursue uninterrupted education at a very young age. And then dealing with new place and people, new food, pain of missing home. We have met very good, kind hearted people who have helped and touched our heart and we remain indebted forever.

But we are also faced with indifference and questions on our identity making us to cope up to blend in, to survive in many ways even in the way one dresses, avoiding places and events, curbing one’s freedom to avoid situations, keeping quiet gulping humiliations to survive. Many of us cope up this way for we know that when we fight back it’s only us who will loose and end in tragic incidents which never gets justice. But should we keep quiet ? No we shouldn’t. And we will not. We have learnt to pick our battle and find ways and mechanism to protest, educate, spread awareness and let people know. Also we should ask our self if we are calling names to others, start from home, our origin and fight for the cause, stand for the cause irrespective of your community and contribute at the individual level and this will truly bring a change.

Thanks to our Guest Speakers for sharing their heart felt experience and thoughts. Please share your experience and thoughts too.

S02E01 FindingTheVoices: Meeting the Authors of the book “Tattooed with Taboos”

/ Monica Ingudam / 3 Comments

S02E01 FindingTheVoices: Meeting the Authors of the book “Tattooed with Taboos”

Guest Speakers: Shreema Ningombam , Soibam Haripriya, Chaoba Phuritshbam

Language: Podcast in English.
Interview Location : Manipur and New Delhi in India.

“Tattooed with Taboos” is an anthology that records a specific angst of the times developed within the consciousness of the poets. Circumscribed by the construct of womanhood; enveloped within the halo of love, betrayal and breathing, these poems are located in the setting of a conflict torn society. The poets use the personal as a tool to document the changing frames of the society and practices which seems to be “set in stone” through the metamorphosis of their moods, anxiety, hysteria and melancholy. The poems are experiential as well as reflexive.

You can get this book at INFIBEAM

FindingTheVoices brings voices and story that Inspire, Empower, Educate & Entertain us from people all over the world.. It is a talk show presented by Monica Ingudam with the vision to promote and spread positive, hopeful, inspiring & entertaining stories in the violence-torn landscape of Manipur.

This is your show to promote your talents & work, share your experiences and voice what you stand for, what you believe in, what you want people to know & talk about.

Special thanks to Akee Sorokhaibam and my sweet sisters of M4 Girls who have been a part in the making of this Episode.

Untamed (A poem by Shreema Ningombam)
Meet Kapil Arambam, the man who did the cover design for the book “Tattooed with taboos” , the design we are all raving about, the design which said it all.
The book has a phanek for its cover is very significant in many ways. We were asked why a meitei phanek, why not any other ethnic community. But it is the meitei phanek which is tattooed with taboos. The phanek of other communities I believe, is not embedded with such stark ideas of impurity. Choosing the phanek mapanaiba as the cover was a very conscious decision. Firstly, it is untouchable, meitei men do not touch the phanek, and putting that on the cover of course will have many men touching the phanek unconsciously. Secondly, it is considered inauspicious. Of course this is strange because I am sure there is not a single man who has not yet touched a phanek. Thoughts?
Where do you read a book ? I always carry a book in my bag and read it when I find time, mostly my waiting time. It’s interesting that you will always find pockets of time, time where you are waiting, and we are always waiting for something. This was when I was waiting for my son near the bus stop.
Sharing a cartoon by our special Guest speaker Manas Maisnam for our featured Guest Speakers, authors of the book “Tattooed with Taboos”
To the Researcher (A poem by Soibam Haripriya)
Have you read the book “Tattooed with Taboos” ?
Behind the scenes for Findingthevoices : We thought Nehru Park at #Delhi will be perfect location and we even found a perfect spot. As we are ready for “Action”, we were told that shooting inside the park is not allowed. Lesson#2 learnt. We ended up shooting just outside near the entrance of Nehru Park with the 2 beautiful young poetess from #Manipur Chaoba Phuritshabam and Haripriya Soibam.
always carry a book in my bag and this is my current book. Watch the interview of the authors of this book at Findingthevoices.
When a girl expresses her love directly to person it is considered bold and even looked down. Talking about falling in “Love” seems very awkward in our society. Watch what the young poetess from #Manipur have to say about this. What are your thoughts ?
There is so much room to promote the work and talents from #Manipur . The book “Tattooed with taboos” was released in 2011 and yet many of us didn’t know about this. Please share and spread the promotions if you like the book and effort by these young writers.
Season of Love ( A poem by Chaoba Phuritshabam)
Shreema Ningombam, Author of the book “Tattooed with Taboos” shared an incident where this book was suggested to be a part of the “Chagumba” spread (the first feeding ceremony for a child where a book is a part) but this book was rejected because of the “Phanek” picture in the cover which is considered not auspicious. FindingTheVoices is honored to start our very first Episode for Season #2 making this book a very special and auspicious book for us.

V007 FindingTheVoices – About FindingTheVoices from Linthoi Angom

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It’s been raining with hail stones in Washington DC today but that didn’t stop us from going out and shooting for Season 2 for FindingTheVoices. Thanks to our Guest Speaker Linthoi Angom. Sharing a clipping where she shared about FindingTheVoices. Coming up soon will be the video podcast Episode on “Is it ok to call North East Indians as Chinky ?”

Thanks for all your support. Please continue tuning in to our show.

V006 FindingTheVoices – Learning about “Saroi Khangba” in Manipur from Madam Saroj Nalini

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Learning about “Saroi Khangba” in Manipur from Madam Saroj Nalini, a vodcast in Meiteilon (Manipuri language).

What do you know about #Manipur’s “Lamta Thangja” and “Saroi Khangba” ? Though I had seen it, I didn’t know much about it except being scared on those Saturdays. After seeing the vivid capture of Ronel Seram’s pictures he shared with FindingTheVoices I was inspired to learn more. Today, my mother told me the story on my way to work, over the phone (which I really enjoyed, remembering what I saw growing up) and I had recorded it.

Please share your memories and what you know of “Lamta Thangja” and “Saroi Khangba” ?

Special thanks to Ronel Seram for sharing these pictures.

Morning Worship

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I have always been fascinated and love the sight of the morning worship of my mother, giving the feeling of purity. This is a very common sight in many household in Manipur (Small vessel filled with water, flowers offered with light and incense stick in the early morning before/as the sun rises)

 

In times of Conflict, No one can take our spirit away, Spread the love on Valentine’s Day 2014

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Valentine‘s Day was associated more with romantic love, it’s celebrated now by all even small kids in preschool and kindergarten making cards for everyone in the class, for the teachers, for parents, friends and now it’s all about LOVE and your SPIRIT. Celebrating Valentine’s Day in the midst of all the conflict, discrimination and crimes faced by our people, it’s our way of saying “Even in time of Conflict, No one can take our spirit away”

Spread the love on Valentine’s Day 2014.

Inspired by Paradise Road, a strong movie showing the amazing strength and courage in woman surviving hardships and emerging as survivors. The group of women from different countries and social levels are prisoners in a Japanese POW camp,, organizes a vocal band in spite of their guards resistance and a way to bring a smile during those conflicting time. The power of music kept them together during such hard times of war and go through the conflicting phase.

Thanks everyone for contributing to this Album and participating in spreading the love.

In the woods, far away from the din of crowded human settlements, where the air is claimed by smog, the rooms and fronts occupied by plastic plants, it stood swaying above the dark green healthy leaves. The tall trees around it had their branches over it, as though they had grown at the attempts to view the beauty, just like a giraffe’s neck at the attempts to get food. Who wouldn’t stop by to admire you, who wouldn’t be dazzled, you are called beauty, which can soothe an aching heart, clear a muddled mind and blurred eyes. You need not leave your place, you don’t ask for their attention, you are you, the beautiful you. A photograph by Bobo Meitei
I see this beautiful peas flower blooming in my Mother’s garden and I think of you, so simple, beautiful, local and delicate just like you. A photograph by Bimal Thongam
I may be small and tiny but jewelers in Manipur designed earrings on our look. You will see me blooming bringing smile to many and even worn by beautiful people of Manipur as earring design. Do you know my name? A photograph by Bimal Thongam.
People fight with their own feelings making them drown fighting the unstoppable current. Why not go with the flow and see the fate ? Do you always have to carve the path yourself ? A photograph by Bimal Thongam
Khagileihao angangba, this flower was a gift from Chinese King(China was called Khagi during those days) to King Khagemba of Manipur for defeating and killing of their notorious army general Maidana. It’s a symbol of friendship and also a highly valued medicinal plant. A photograph by Ronald Meitei
I am not a writer and I am not a poet, if you could just look at me and feel what I am feeling, you will put all the words to shame. A photograph by Bimal Thongam
We are so different, we don’t agree on anything making each other mad and angry. And yet we are incomplete without each other. Do you call this love? A photograph by Bimal Thongam
When you find beauty even in the midst of her tantrums and anger, you know love is still in the air. And you surrender with a beautiful red flower to make up for peace even when you are right making her right. A photograph by Bimal Thongam
Though #Valentine’s Day was associated more with romantic love, it’s celebrated by all even small kids in preschool and kindergarten making cards for everyone in the class, for the teachers, for parents and now it’s all about #love. A photograph by Bimal Thongam
Red Red roses ready at the florist. Maybe it’s to surprise your special someone or maybe to make up. Be sure she likes roses. A photograph by Bobo Meitei
A beautiful picture from Yaisana Huidrom dedicating to Findingthevoices and all listeners and viewers. Thanks everyone for your participation and making Findingthevoices your platform. it’s important to find small things in life to keep our spirits high in the midst of all the conflicts we see everyday. Thank you. A photograph by Yaisana Huidrom
Red flower catching your attention energizing you as you walk by and why not, Red is the color of energy, passion and action. A photograph by Bobo Meitei
Between living with love and burdening yourself with hate, I choose love (though hate could be very tempting!) A photograph by Wahengbam Sagar.
Don’t fall in Love with someone who says right things,fall in love with someone who does the right things. Contributed by Rebeck Loutongbam
“Learning to hate what I love” to which I replied ” I would rather be hated for who I am, instead of being loved for who I am not, for who you want me to become” A photograph by Ronald Meitei
In #love you do things termed as “Foolish and lacking judgment” and asked “What were you thinking ?” by people who have never been in love. But you don’t think when you are in love. A photograph by Ronald Meitei
A beautiful red flower blooming somewhere in Manipur. Do you know the name of this flower ? A photograph by Priyojit Akoijam
Life with me is not going to be smooth, accept me with all my thorns. A photograph by Priyojit Akoijam
Be bold and speak up for what you feel. When it’s not in your upbringing to be expressive of your feelings, and is awkward to speak openly with your immediate family in matters of the heart, how could you be bold ? A photograph by Thiyam General
Red kalanchoe flower somewhere at Kakching in Manipur. RED color sparkling the love making you stop to click such a beautiful flower. With Valentine’s day coming up, lets have red flower theme for picture of the day. Mobile Photography by Rebeck Loutongbam