David Zohmangaiha Becomes First Mizo To Scale Everest

Aizawl, May 20 : David Zohmangaiha (38) s/o K Zokhuma (L) has become the first Mizo to scale the highest mountain in the world, the Mount Everest. He, along with team members, set foot on the mountain peak at 5:30 am on Saturday. Vanlalliana, Maubawk, Head Adventure of Sports & Youth Services department of Mizoram was also in the expedition team as Base Camp Manager. Meanwhile, three persons of the team could not reach the peak due to physical problems.

Family of David exclaimed, "We are very happy and we are also very proud of him. In the beginning we were almost disheartened as a huge amount to the tune of lakhs of rupees was required for the expedition as it was a bit difficult to get sponsored because no Mizo has yet scale the Mt. Everest before. So, while we were almost losing heart, David had not only achieved his goal but won our hearts."

The expedition team, which set out to scale the Mt. Everest on April 5, 2013, reached Camp IV, the last stage before reaching the peak which is of 7920 metres ( 26,000 feet) high on the night of May 16 around 10 pm. and from there they proceeded upward to reach the peak measuring 8848 metres (feet 29,029) the following day. Sources said they had to stop for some time when they reached 'South Col’ which is near Camp IV, as speedy wind of 60 kilometre per hour blew along and also because of the snowfall. Also, even after 3 of the team members reached the peak, the other members had to stop at 'South Col’ due to lack of oxygen and food. They started again on Friday night, and the other five climbers reached the peak in the morning yesterday.

The expedition conducted under the aegis of Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association was sponsored by North Eastern Council. Sources also informed that Vanlalliana’s contribution for the success of the expedition is immense, citing that after when the team doctor faced physical problem, he even helped in taking care of the members’ physical condition.

In order to scale the Mt. Everest it is required to secure Grade ‘A’ in each of Adventure Courses, Basic Mountaineering, Advance Mountaineering and Search & Rescue. After these, it is necessary to scale at least one minor peak and one major peak, of a height 20, 000 feet and 22, 000 feet respectively. Even after fulfilling all these requirements, it is further required to undergo Pre-Expedition for Major Peak.

In terms of logistics too, advance booking' and a total amount required by one person is Rs. 18 lakh. The team members from Mizoram were sponsored by Sports & Youth Services department besides DRDA Project Director, Rotluanga and D3 Business Enterprise, Ramhlun North.

 Starting on April 5, 2013 from New Base Camp, 8 of the expedition team members scaled the mountain peak during May 17-18. They will leave New Base Camp on May 22 and proceed to New Delhi.

 David Zohmangaiha, the first from Mizoram to set foot on the peak of the Mt. Everest, is the present leader of Silver Hawk Adventure Club, Republic Veng, Aizawl. His club Silver Hawk Adventure Club had during 2006-2010 ventured to all the Mizoram boundaries.

Record has it that one Mizo identified as Capt. Samuel Lalrintluanga (Indian Army), employed at Medical Office of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkasi, Uttaranchal State had earlier participated as Team Leader of Mt. Everest Joint Expedition under the aegis of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). The team had scaled the Mt. Everest on May 21, 2009. Although Samuel Lalrintluanga was the first Mizo to participate in the team of expedition to scale the Mt. Everest, but due to certain problems, he failed to book his name among the team members who had reached the mountain peak.

Also in 1995, Mizoram Alpine Club had climbed Mt. Abigabin (24, 639 feet) on behalf of Mizoram Adventure Association (MAA), but after being qualified for expedition to scale the Mt. Everest, they could not do so due to financial problem. But then, as they were already qualified earlier, they opened up the way for Adventure Club which is under MAA.

It may be recalled that Sir Edmund Hillary, Auckland, New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Nepal were the first to scale Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

Mizoram MP For Judicial Probe Into House Collapse

Aizawl, May 20 : The lone Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram Lalhming Liana on Saturday reiterated the demand of his Mizo National Front (MNF) party that a judicial inquiry and not a magisterial inquiry should be constituted to probe the collapse of a government building on May 11 which killed 17 people in northern Aizawl.

Lalhming Liana said that the disaster was not a natural one, but a 'government-made' disaster as loss of valuable lives could be avoided if the state public works department (PWD) acted on time and dismantle the office building vacated almost for a year.

The PWD office building swept nine houses killing 17 people and the state government was responsible, he said, adding that a judicial inquiry should be ordered for an impartial and fact finding inquiry.

He also slammed the Congress government led by chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and also the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for allocating only Rs 2,278.59 crore as the state annual plan outlay.

"While the Planning Commission fixed Rs 2,500 crore for the state annual plan for the current fiscal, inclusion of Rs 221.41 crore under North Eastern Council (NEC) and Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), which were earlier allocated over and above the state plan outlay in the yesteryears indicated as the plan size was smaller than that of 2012-13 which was Rs 2,300 crore," he said.

ISC, ICSE Results 2013: Northeast Region Students Score Well

Shillong, May 20 : Though there are only few schools in the northeast region affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), students from NE have fared well in both Class X and XII board examinations. The results of Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Indian School Certificate Exam (ISC), conducted by the CISCE were declared on Friday.

Sanskriti the Gurukul, the only ICSE-affiliated school in the city, recorded 100 per cent pass percentage. Founder secretary of the school, Ashutosh Aggarwal said, "In Class X, a total of 38 students appeared and all of them fared brilliantly. Nishant Barua, who scored 94.6%, is our topper."

About 32% students achieved an average of above 90%, 42% between 80 to 90% and 26% between 70 and 80%, he added.

Aggarwal said, "A total of 32 students appeared for the ISC examinations and all of them passed. Nishant Sogani topped with 93.75%." The principal of the school, Radha Barua, said they were extremely happy with the results and after a long time the boys did fairly well than girls.

The students of Assam Valley School in Tezpur have also done well in both ICSE and ISC examinations. Headmaster of D N A Mountford School said, "A total of 118 candidates appeared for in Class X exams and 85 candidates appeared in Class XII exams and all of them passed. Ananya Hazarika is our topper in class XII humanities stream with 98.25%. Padma Todi topped commerce stream with 97.5% and Shakti Yambem is our topper in science stream with 93.5%."

Jorhat's Carmel School also recorded 100% pass percentage in the Class X and XII results. Principal of Jorhat Carmel School, Sister Monica said, "Eighty-eight students appeared for ICSE examinations and 87 got first division while one got second division. Moreover, 20 students have got above 90% marks, including highest percentage holder Bikramjyoti Bora. Bora got 95% marks."

"In ISC, 13 students - two in arts, four in science and seven in commerce stream - appeared from our school and all have passed."

In Shillong, pupils who appeared for the ICSE this year from different schools recorded grand success with Loreto Convent, Pine Mount School and the Meghalaya Police Public School recording 100% pass percentage, while St Edmund's School recorded a success rate of 84.04%.

Shillong Public School and Meghalaya Police Public School, both co-ed institutions, recorded a pass percentage of 93 and 100 respectively.

Loreto Convent had 85 examinees, Pine Mount had 103, and St Edmund's 133.

Meghalee Bose of Loreto Convent secured 97% (best of five), while Shawli Deb of Pine Mount secured 91.8%. Naved Nagi of St Edmund's School secured 95% in the examination.

Shillong Public School had sent 12 students, out of whom Melampynshai Nongrum, with 90% emerged the topper. Meghalaya Public School saw all its 44 examinees sailing through in the examination.

Pine Mount secured a 100% success rate in the ISC examinations in the arts and science streams.

In the arts stream, Betty Lalrinseli topped the school list with 94.75%. Ribhalina Lyngdoh Pale and Phibakor Wanshnong, with 81% each, topped the science stream.

6 More Northeast Climbers Script Everest Glory

Guwahati, May 20 : Six more members of the Northeast Mount Everest expedition team rewrote history as they reached the top of the world on Saturday morning. Arunachal Pradesh's Anshu Jamsenpa, a mother of two kids, scaled the Everest for the third time.

Sixteen-year-old Manipuri boy Nemeirakpam Chingkheinganba, the youngest climber in the team, reached the peak at 5.15am on Saturday. He is now the youngest mountaineer from the NE region to reach the Everest. The other members of the expedition team are Tarun Saikia (Assam), David Zohmangaiha (Mizoram), Kazi Sherpa (Sikkim) and Wangsuk Myrthong (Meghalaya). Zohmangaiha, Saikia and Myrthong are the first ones from Mizoram, Assam and Meghalaya to scale the highest peak on earth.

Three other NE climbers - N Bidyapati Devi (Manipur), Nima Lama (Arunachal Pradesh) and Anand Gurung (Sikkim) - reached the peak on the first day on Friday and unfurled the expedition flag atop Mount Everest. Puyamcha Mohon (Manipur) is expected to reach the summit by Sunday morning. President Pranab Mukherjee flagged off the team of 14 climbers, including six from Manipur, two each from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Sikkim and one each from Mizoram and Meghalaya, from Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 20. The expedition team is the first that exclusively comprises mountaineers from the northeast.

It is organized by Manipur government in collaboration with the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) and is funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong.

The leader of the expedition, L Surjit, is also the president of MMTA. "The association is really proud of the historic achievement of all climbers with each of them setting records in different ways for their respective states and the country," MMTA's administrative officer Mayanglangbam Kumar said. People in Assam congratulated Tarun Saikia for becoming the first one from the state to scale Everest. A resident of Narengi in Guwahati, Saikia had scaled many peaks and attended an advanced course of mountaineering at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling.

Anshu Jamsenpa scaled Everest twice on May 12 and May 21 in 2011. A few days before the expedition was flagged off from Imphal on February 25, Chingkheingamba had promised his mother Nameirakpam Sabitri that he would give his best to achieve the feat. "Ema (mother) don't worry for my mission, please bless me. I'll do my best to conquer the Everest."

"My brave son has done it. Minutes after I got the news of his success in the morning, tears of happiness trickled down," said an emotional Sabriti, who was a prominent archer. She had bagged two golds in national championships.

Chingkheinganba's father Nameirakpam Tomba, a pradhan of Patsoi gram panchyat in Imphal West, was also an ace mountaineer. "My son's historic achievement has really made me happier than my election victory," Tomba quipped.

Louis Philippe Unveils First Store in Mizoram

Aizawl, May 18 : Louis Philippe, the identity of the stylish and astute Indian gentleman launched a brand new store at Zarkawt, Aizawl.

The brand new store was inaugurated by chief guest Pu Lal Thanzara, Honourable Parliamentary Secretary (CMO), Government of Mizoram.

The range of products on offer is a delight for the experimentative and fashionably discerned populace of the city.

Choose from a delectable assortment of men’s apparel and accessories ranging from ceremonial and corporate suits, blazers, shoes etc. Engage your fashion senses as Louis Philippe enthralls with its classy and exclusive offerings.

Since its foray into the Indian market in 1989, Louis Philippe has successfully established itself as the premium menswear brand in the country. The brand has been on an aggressive expansion spree and the success story continues with the brand launching its latest flagship store in Aizawl which is definitely a milestone in the city’s fashion culture.

Speaking on the new launch, Mr. Jacob John, brand head, Louis Philippe, said: “Louis Philippe is expanding and reaching out to consumers at a fast pace. The growth of the retail sector, supported by experimentative and brand conscious consumers makes Aizawl an exciting market for a brand like Louis Philippe. We aim to strengthen our commitment to our consumers by providing the best what Louis Philippe has to offer while keeping the consumer sentiments in mind.”

The latest addition shows the importance of the North Eastern region in the brand's distribution strategy. The brand has also been on an aggressive expansion spree and aims to increase its presence by opening more stores and with focus shifting to non-metro markets. The story continues with the brand launching its latest flagship store in Aizawl which is definitely a milestone in the city’s fashion culture.

So come be a part of the celebration as Louis Philippe ushers in a new wave of class meets panache in the wonderful city of Aizawl.

Manipur, Mizo Groups Want Inner Line Permit Reintroduced

Aizawl/Agartala, May 18 : A Manipuri group of activists has demanded the reintroduction of Inner Line Permits (ILP) in northeastern states to “protect the indigenous and domicile” people in the region.

“In the first phase of our agitation, we will not allow non-Manipuri people to enter Manipur between June 1 and June 5 if the ILP system is not reintroduced by May 31,” Sapamacha Jadumani, spokesperson of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit (JCILP), told reporters in Imphal.

“We are not against non-Manipuris visiting the state. We have been demanding that the central and state governments reintroduce the ILP system in Manipur to protect the distinct identities of the indigenous people in the region,” he said.

The JCILP is a conglomeration of various social organisations and students groups.

The ILP, or the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, has been in force in the region since 1873. It was withdrawn from the state to boost tourism. The ILP system is now in force in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

Tribal-based parties Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and the Khasi Students Union (KSU) of Meghalaya have also been demanding that the ILP be promulgated in their states to protect the aboriginal people.

The North Eastern Students Organisation (NESO), a powerful organisation in the region, has been demanding that the ILP be brought back in the entire mountainous region to protect ethnic tribals and other indigenous communities.

In Mizoram, at least 460 non-tribals without ILP have been detained during the past two months after the influential Young Mizo Association (YMA) launched an agitation to reinforce the permit system effectively.

“Those identified as staying in the state without ILP or fake ILP were presented before local courts and, when convicted, they have been deported to their states,” a senior police official told reporters Friday in Aizawl.

Under the ILP rule, people from outside Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have to obtain ILP before or immediately on entering these states.

The regulations of the ILP were made by the then British rulers to ensure that the tribal and indigenous people in the northeastern region, undeveloped and lesser in population, were safeguarded and protected from assimilation by larger communities from outside the region.

In The Shadow Of Guns

By Irfan Ahmad

Sonia Nepram. Sonia Nepram talks about her debut film “Gun and a God”

Making a documentary film on a woman who is an ex-insurgent is not easy. It takes a lot of courage to go ahead with such a subject and do justice to it. Independent filmmaker Sonia Nepram took on this subject in her debut documentary Gun and a God. The documentary tells the story of Purnima, an ex-insurgent from Manipur, born to a mentally ill mother and an unknown father.

The film released online recently and was received well for raising the issue of the status of women in Manipur and in society at large. “I tried to show very clear and real situation of women of Manipur through the story of Purnima,” the director says.

A news report on Purnima proved the trigger for the documentary But it was very difficult for Sonia to convince her subject to be a part of this film. It took her almost a year. “She was very suspicious. In starting she denied. But, I constantly tried to convince her. I told her that I want to bring out your story. There is nothing hidden in it,” Sonia remembers.

“I knew it was not going to be an easy task. There was a risk. There was danger because of her past. But, she gradually understood my intention and gave her consent,” she adds. Being an independent filmmaker Sonia had very limited resources to make this film. But, her stint at Jamia Millia Islamia helped her to use limited resources and make the film.

Born and brought up in Imphal, the director has been witnessing the situation of women for years.

And when she came to know about Purnima she couldn’t stop herself. Sonia says, “I have many childhood memories of atrocities and violence on women. Now, I constantly ask myself why women always become the victim. This film provided me a platform to raise some very important questions on the situation of women in Manipur.”

Talking about her decision to release the film online, she says, “I wanted to reach the masses that’s why I decided to release this film online. And social media also helped to spread the word about my film.”

Sonia is closely associated with women’s organisations of Manipur, and organises workshops for women.

“I want to create awareness among people. It seems to me that our society is very rigid towards women. This film has given me hope and power to put the real picture. I know this is a very small step. But, I have to fight all odds. I want to bring about a change in attitude and behaviour of people towards women.”

Cyclonic Storm Mahasen Weakens Into Deep Depression Over Mizoram

Aizawl, May 17 : The cyclonic storm Mahasen over the Bay of Bengal moved northeastwards and weakened into a deep depression and lay centred at 1730 hours today over Mizoram, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A bulletin issued by the IMD this evening said Mahasen lay centred near latitude 24.00 N and longitude 92.50 E, about 35 km North of Aizawl.

It would move northeastwards and weaken into a depression during the next six hours, the bulletin said.

Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy
falls at a isolated places, would occur over South and East Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura
and Nagaland during the next 24 hours.

Squally wind speed reaching 50 -60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail over South Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland during the next 12 hours, the bulletin added.