A band of brothers set out on such journey to proffer their deference. And I was a part of the family.

As soon as we passed by pine grove, the fragrance of pines tingle our nostrils. And there were beds of infinitesimal wild flowers for our eyes. And each tiny flower was no longer than 3-5mm in diameters. I took shots after shots until the Li-ion was totally exhausted.

We mounted a few hills. When we were surrounded by many more hills, a member of the family finally announced that this is the end of our journey.

Yes, I am hopelessly in love with the wonders and beauty of nature.

Slated to be the biggest event in North East India, the First Imphal International Short Film Festival 2012 that is all scheduled to open its doors this Sunday April 15 at Rupmahal Theatre, Imphal, Manipur has finally announced its opening film at the festival. Directed by Saptaswa Basu – “The Forlorn” – that has Iconic Bengali actor and Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winner Soumitra Chatterjee in a lead role will open the festival on Sunday.

“The Forlorn”, is a psychological thriller centering around a young woman who, after moving into a new apartment, stumbles upon the previous tenant’s diary. This former occupant, a parapsychology researcher, is dead. She becomes obsessed with the diary. Her behaviour becomes increasingly erratic; she sees hallucinations and is tormented by the feeling of being stared at even when she is alone. Soumitra Chatterjee plays the role of a senior psychiatrist who helps his junior Saswata Chatterjee (who recently was seen with Vidya Balan in Kahaani, where he played a simple looking scary contract killer Bob Biswas) deal with the same. Also featuring Rini Ghosh in the female lead, this High Definition digital short film deals with both parapsychology and psychological issues but this is obviously not a supernatural film.

“Besides working in award winning films of Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha, Chatterje encourages short film makers,” says Director Saptaswa Basu whose was insistent that Chatterjee can only play the part of the psychologist perfectly. “It was a rigorous process, convincing Chatterjee to take on the role. He is a very busy person and is also very choosy about the roles he is playing,” says Basu. “I met him with my mum… I introduced myself; I said I am going to do this kind of a film and it is very important for you to work with me because the character only suits you.”

This film was premiered at the 8th Kolkata Short Film Festival (International) on 8th December, 2011. This is the first short film in which Saswata Chatterjee has acted in and shared screen space together with Soumitra Chatterjee after a very long time.

According to Mohen Naorem, the festival director, “We were keenly looking forward to have Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winner Soumitra Chatterjee amongst us to motivate young film makers across the global platform on the opening day of the festival. However, he wouldn’t be able to make his presence at the festival due to his pre-commitments. He has however, wished the festival all success.”

A four day cultural event will mark this prestigious festival. Outstanding 40 domestic films and 10 International films has been received for the screenings like Open Doors by Ashish Pandey, Brian’s Gandhi by Ram J Saravanan, Maut Ka Kunwa by Sumant Bapurao Mali from Mumbai, LOC-A Playground by Atul Kumar Sharma from Mumbai, Bengali film Swapno Satyakam by Tomal Chakraborti, Tamil film Sathish Chandrasekaran B.E., MBA by Sathish Chandrasekaran, Malayalam film “Sabdarekha” by Nirmal S, Samvedanam by Methil Komalankutty from Dubai, Iranian film The Bare Foot Leader Zohreh Zamani.

Organized and promoted by “Legend Studio Manipur and Action for Social Advancement (ASA) Manipur” with the support of Film Forum Manipur. IISFF 2012 will witness great short films from around the world.

A day before, rain showered down on the valley. It had moistened the dusty roads. It had washed away all the dirt from the leaves. Finally the forest had come to life again. It flourishes with all the unfathomable colors. I looked at the emerald hills and got lost. My deep emotion corresponds equally with the beckoning of forest. I asked myself,” What am I doing here in cubicle?” I was not tied up. I was free to tramp for a day in the wilderness – under the thick canopy of trees, in the midst of ferns. So I grabbed my backpack, packed the Rain Jacket, water bottle and some indispensable stuff into it. I checked the battery status of my camera and headed out. On the way, I picked some bars of chocolates to boost the calorie. I was all set for a day.

A dash of violet accompanied me on trail or wherever I treaded. Even the skies seemed to be bathed in violet, though the dark clouds dominated the entire expanse. For four hours I walked, listen to the rhymes of brook and tried to capture the details of undergrowth. I also shrieked in fright when I heard a gunshot in the distance. The gunshot that boomed and wrecked the serenity of serene ambiance.

In the forest, day really turns to dusk quite quickly. I speed up my pace and reached the entry point in three hours. It was a good day. The weather greatly favored me, as, I was not soaked in rain from head to toe. I didn’t expect to see many birds as gun slinging predators always scare them away, so I wasn’t disappointed. It was a good day, indeed.

Public transport is a Tata Sumo is a multi utility vehicle.

Tata Sumo! An accepted mode of public transportation in hilly region, which can carry ten passengers in each trip excluding the driver. Three in front, four in the middle and four more in the rear.

However, travelling in it is both extraordinary and a grueling one, especially when you are going via Hoj to Itanagar or Ziro.

Nearly three hours ride of rough road.

Did you ever notice that the onus is always on the passenger no. 3 who usually does the work of a doorman? If a passenger from rear seat need to shed some loads or for some other purpose, it’s no. 3 who has to get off first.

A scrawny passenger like me can be easily tossed about like a roll of dice in an empty vehicle or when it had too few passengers. So I always have had to grab whatever support I could find and hold onto it to stay put in my seat. But, when the vehicle is jam-packed with passengers and I find myself seated between two plump passengers, which may have never happened with you, can instantly reminds me of the thin slice of salami of SUBWAY’s sandwich.

In such lucky hot humid dusty summer day, when perspiration rise from hibernation and tickles every passengers’ foreheads (I guess plump people sweat more than the skinny one) and its odor amalgamate with strong perfume that your co-passenger is wearing to conceal their body odor, then suddenly someone rolled up the window to prevent the dancing dust to get inside the vehicle. I tell myself it’s not a carbon monoxide. This is not a time for your breathing exercise. Inhale it just this once and won’t feel the difference later on.

Then there’s the fare of Tata Sumo. Brand new fare for the passenger travelling to Ziro from Itanagar and vice versa at Rs. 300/-. I reminded the employees at ticket booking counter that it was Rs. 250/- sometimes ago. “Hike in petrol price, they reasoned.” But their faces seem to be saying, “You Moron”.

Increment of Rs. 3/-in petrol price is directly proportionate to Rs. 50/- from each passenger. I said, “You Moron” with my face. I immediately realized, while taking out the Rs. 50/- note from wallet, that I was actually the real moron – you know, he was the first person to use the word and besides I was paying him.

Imagine you are languishing in a hotel owing to Strike/Close/Bandh for three or four days while hotelier is happily lapping up your rapidly running out cash with their worthless but expensive breakfast, lunch and dinner. You spend a wakeful night in a hotel bed, counting the remaining coins and praying “bandh, bandh ho jaye”.

In another trip; in order to escape from money sucking leeches, nauseating Tata Sumo and to deprive the employee at the booking counter of an added argument, I decided to drive my third-hand motorbike to Itanagar. The ride on my motorbike was pretty perfect until my return trip to Ziro.

This time I choose to dodge the rugged road that test your spirit; that test your endurance.

En route, there were almost half a dozen cattle resting on the warmth of bitumen covered road. My eyes were on the road. I remember seeing an ox approaching the resting group. Suddenly two ox packed with full of testosterone and their horns locked against each other, moved swiftly towards me and bumped my motorbike.

The impact of smack was great. But I am amazed; the first thing that occurs to my mind was will I be able to reach home. What if my bike is broken down completely? So I got up to see the damages done to my motorbike. It looked okay. At that moment, I realized that the bone at the ball of the thumb is dislocated. I could clearly hear a sound which was a little familiar – F@%k! – When I was fixing my bone by myself.

Really I am not that very enthusiastic about motor vehicle as I am in to some other things. Bookcase crammed with novels? Yes please. iPod? Definitely yes. PS3? Why not. I can comprehend people’s fondness for their engines. And why the “have-nots” want to have it? I, at any given day, I would settle on hitchhiking rather than maneuvering it – talking to the person on steering and keeping him awake.

Last time when I was at my friend’s place I asked for a car as a present for my “not-in-the-sight-marriage”. I was, in fact, kidding. Have I succeeded to give you a fright, my friend? Don’t worry I would be more than well-contented with the Dslr you are planning to buy from online shop.

I wonder why Department of Transport won’t upgrade all those vintage “blue and sky blue colored buses” that have been plying on the road of Arunachal since time immemorial.

Would it be a sin if I plead to be carried in a clean public transport? Not in freight truck.

Till then, can I hitch a lift with you? We could save some fuel, money and bloodshed. More importantly, I can give you a treat to a plate of “butter chicken and Nan” at Punjabi dhaba in Banderdewa. All on me.

(Crossposted here)

So, henceforth, your comment may not appear as soon as it is posted, as it would have gone into moderation. But be assured, your comment would be taken out of moderation if it is not off-topic or troll.

Inconvenience caused due to comment moderation is highly regretted. Do bear with us.

Lest you feel that I’m against your organization and invite unnecessary attention to myself, let me make myself clear at the very outset that I’m not writing in to protest or to criticize your organizations’ act of repeated call of “Bandhs”. In fact, I’m writing in to show my solidarity and gratitude for your frequent “Bandh-Calls”. You are doing yeomen service to the people of Arunachal Pradesh by calling “Bandhs” and I highly respect and support your cause/s- be it political, apolitical, personal, non-personal, profit,  non-profit or even the “Bandh-Call” against “Bandh-Call”, of which I believe that even the Apatani Protagonist would surely agree with.

Had it not been for your “Bandh” call, we wouldn’t have this “quality time” with our family that we forgot in the midst of our daily chores of running around to make our ends meet. Now that, you’ve called a “Marathon Bandh” giving us whopping 4 days of “quality time” with our family, we are really indebted to your organization.

The general public is of the opinion that the development in the state has taken a backseat due to your organizations’s frequent “Bandh Calls”. I say, to hell with their opinion. You and your organization are doing great job by letting the public servants of the state avail paid absence from their duty and they are indebted to you and your organization. Their only complaint though, is that two of your organizations are calling the “Bandh” on same day, thereby depriving them of one more paid absence from their duty. They would really appreciate if one of your organization defer your “Bandh” call to another day not coinciding with any other organization’s “Bandh” call. Further, they have a request that kindly prepare your annual schedule of “Bandh Calls” and circulate in the greater interest of the salaried personnels so that they can plan their station leave in advance taking into consideration the scheduled “Bandhs”.

The Business Communities of Arunachal Pradesh are complaining that their business are dipping owing to your frequent “Bandh Calls”. I say, are you kidding! What about the profit made by you during the non-”Bandh” period by charging us above MRP’s in the product/goods, huh! You and your organization are doing great service to the consumers’ by making the business establishment shut down their shutters and letting the consumer’s pay back the businessmen by not letting the consumer’s making any purchase during the “Bandh” period. The consumers’ of Arunachal Pradesh thank you for your kind act.

Elected representatives of Arunachal Pradesh are complaining that their business of developing the state is getting hampered owing to your frequent “Bandh-Calls”. I say, excuse me, sir! But for their organizations’ frequent “Bandh Calls”, you are getting this opportunity to remain absent from your duty and head off to foriegn tour or to some farm houses in some exotic location. So, you and your organization are doing great services to our politicos too.

I say, keep-on doing the good work that you are doing and don’t listen to what your detractors have to say about your act. After all, you are doing the act in the interest of the people and the development of Arunachal Pradesh and one day, who knows, you and your organization may bring laurel to the state by making Arunachal Pradesh a numero-uno state in the country in terms of number of “Bandh” calls in a year. Amen.

Long live “Bandh culture”.

Indebtedly yours,

AG

The candidates from Tirap, Dibang Valley, West Siang, Papumpare, Changlang and lower Subansiri districts should report on 10^th Oct, 2011 and Lohit, East Siang, Upper Subansiri, Upper Siang, Kurung Kumey, Lower Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts on 11^th Oct, 2011. The candidates for Technical/ Nursing Assistant/ Clerks categories (10+2) and sons of serving/retired soldiers, NCC Certificate holders, Sportsmen (who have represented at State or National level) and volunteers for reenrollment to DSC will be tested on 12^th Oct, 2011. Written Test will be held on 30^th Oct, 2011 at KV, Jorhat for candidates who are found fit in physical tests, documents check and medical examination.

Army offers attractive pay and perks to its soldiers; for example a Sepoy with 1-2 years of service draws around Rs 15000/- per month besides free rations, rent free housing, free medical treatment, canteen facilities, children educational allowance, field area allowance etc. Army also offers opportunities for further learning and acquiring educational qualifications.

Candidates for Soldier (GD) should be at least 160 cm tall with pass in class VIII as minimum qualification. The minimum weight acceptable is 48 Kg and chest measurements 77 cm with 5 cms expansion. Age should be between 17 ½ to 21 years as on 10^th Oct, 2011. They should bring along with them their original educational documents, birth certificate, Permanent Residence Certificate, certificate indicating caste status and passport size colour photographs. The educational documents are to be countersigned by the DDSE. No application is required for enrollment to Army.

For more details, contact ARO Jorhat at 0376-2310830 or email at arojorhat@gmail.com.

1. Immediate arrest of Pradeep Thakur
2. Unconditional apology from Pradeep Thakur
3. Revelation of Source of derogatory remark
4. Detailed call records of his two phone numbers.

Source-The Arunachal Times dated Sep 2, 2011

So far, the Times of India Group has pulled down the content that offended the Nyishi Community of the State and had given an apology on the issue on 26^th of May, 2011. Further, the journalist in question, one Pradeep Thakur is suppossedly on anticipatory bail over the issue and has tendered his unconditional apology; the video footage of which is available online on social networking sites like Facebook etc. For wider circulation, the tendered video apology is embedded herewith, if it helps mitigate the issue.

However, all this effort by Times of India group and the State Government who went ahead and brought the video footage of apology of Pradeep Thakur did not help to resolve the issue once and for all. Apparently, may be because so far the source of remark has not been divulged or the details of call records has not been given.

But the question is, would all these “Bandh Calls” be enough to make the ToI Group or one Pradeep Thakur to divulge the source of remark? What if ToI group declines to reveal the source of remark? What if they invoke “Reporter’s Privilege“? In that case, are there any alternatives to bring the issue to the logical end other than to accept the fact that ToI has pulled down the content and has apologised and Pradeep Thakur has issued a video apology? I guess not. Or are there any?

By dragging the issue, the remark, over which the NES and the ANSU started this fight for their community, would be re-quoted again and again while reporting about the issue, thereby defeating the sole purpose of fighting for the issue. Further, the people, who initially emphatized with the Nyishi Community over the derogatory remark by one Pradeep Thakur may start believing that the whole issue is not about the remark on Nyishi Community but entirely political, as is being discussed in some pockets.

While the issue may not come to logical end soon, (not until NES and ANSU accept the solution other than their demands) it would surely make the reporter, who was a non-entity prior to May 4th, 2011, (In) famous; let that “derogatory remark” alive forever and subject the resident’s of Twin Capital City of Naharlagun and Itanagar to further hardships as they are being subjected to for 48 hrs since 0500 hrs of 5th of September, 2011.

The candidates from Tawang, East Kameng and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh can report at Higher Secondary School Ground at Tawang on 9^th Sep 2011 and at Gyaptong Regional Sports Stadium at Rupa on 13^th Sep & 14^th Sep 2011. The candidates of Technical/ Nursing Assistant/ Clerks categories and sons of serving/retired soldiers, NCC Certificate holders & sportsmen who have represented at State or National level will be tested on 9^th Sep 2011 at Tawang and on 14^th Sep 2011 at Rupa.

Written Test for candidates who are found fit in physical tests, documents check and medical examination will be held on 18^th Sep 2011 at Higher Secondary School, Rupa. The final results may be expected by the candidates within three weeks.

It may be worthwhile mentioning that Army offers attractive pay and perks to its soldiers; for example a Sepoy with 1-2 years of service draws around Rs 15000/- per month besides free rations, house rent, medical & canteen facilities, children educational allowance, field area allowance etc.

If selected in the physical and medical tests, a candidate should be prepared to stay under his own arrangements till 18^th Sep, 2011.

The interested candidates for Soldier (GD) should be at least 160 cm tall with class VIII as minimum qualification and should bring along with them their original educational documents, birth certificate, PRC and character certificate. The educational documents should be countersigned by the DDSE.

For more details, contact ARO Jorhat at 0376-2310830.

-Dr. Hano  Hailang

A book on Apatani Language titled “The Quintessence of Apatani Language (Prelude)” was launched by Hon’ble Minister for Power, Forest, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs, Setong Sena on Dree, July 5 last at Ziro.

The Book is authored by Nending Ommo, a young Linguist serving as Assistant Professor at Rang–Frah Government College, Changlang. He has two Masters of Arts in English and Linguistics and an MPhil in English. He is registered for PhD at Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute, Pune.

Hon’ble Minister for Power, Forestry, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs, Setong Sena releasing the book on the occasion of Dree

The book underscores on the importance of preserving Apatani language, talks on the linguistic affiliation of Tani Languages, spotlights on the dialectal variations in Apatani, highlights on the provisional phonetics of Apatani language, accentuates on the exigency to standardize orthography, discusses the limitations of Tani Lipi with regards to Apatani etc.
The writing of the book is sociolinguistic in nature and it challenges the readers to contemplate on saving of one’s mother tongue. The copies of books are now available in all leading book stands in Arunachal.