Russian cultural festival comes to Manipur

The week-long festival, which includes, music, dance and Russian film screenings, is being organised by the RCSC Kolkata and the Manipur Film Development Corporation.

The Gorky Sadan is looking to spread Russian culture to India's northeast. Source: RCSC Kolkata

A week-long Russian cultural festival featuring dance, music, theatre, film shows, literary event and lectures is being held in Imphal, the capital of the northeast Indian state of Manipur. The festival will “go a long way in strengthening the age old cultural relation of friendship and cooperation between India and Russia,” Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told the Imphal Free Press.


The festival titled ‘Culture for Friendship and Co-operation’ is being jointly organized by the Manipur Film Development Corporation Limited and Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC), Kolkata. The festival also ushers in the launch of Russian-language lessons in the state. Russian will be taught at the Slope Land Public School, Khongjom, a remarkable first of the northeastern part of India.

Irina Bashkirova, the Russian Consul General in Kolkata told the Imphal Free Press that Russia and India have a good relationship since many decades and that the relationship was based on mutual respect. “The friendship we established is cherished till now,” Bashkrova said.

The festival commenced with the screening of two Russian short films ‘Sochi Da’ and ‘Poems on Ice,’ followed by ‘Nangna Kappa Pakchade,’ a Manipuri short film.

The state of Manipur, which borders Myanmar in the east, is referred to as the ‘Switzerland of India’ on account of its unspoilt natural beauty. It is also famous for its Rasa-Leela, one of the major Indian classical dance forms. An insurgency has plagued Manipur since the mid-1960s, but India’s plans to connect the region with Southeast Asia are expected to bring about great development to the state.

The RCSC Kolkata, which is known as Gorky Sadan, is looking to spread Russian culture in the seven north-eastern states of India. The centre was established in 1974 and remains one of the most important foreign cultural centres in India’s large eastern metropolis, formerly called Calcutta.

Narendra Modi’s personality cult is now available to download on your smartphone

By Leo Mirani

The many faces of Narendra Modi.Zatun Game Studio

Last week, Abhinav Chokhavatia, a 32-year-old app developer from India, released his company’s latest offering, “Modified.” Built for Android devices, the app is a game that allows users to dress up Narendra Modi, the leader of the opposition and the man most likely to become India’s next prime minister, in a variety of guises.

Chokhavatia’s 18-person company, Zatun, is based in Ahmedabad, the biggest city in the state of Gujarat, of which Modi is presently the chief minister, and he was worried at first about a backlash from the politician’s supporters. ”We had this idea way back in June. But we were not too keen on going ahead and developing [it] because someone somewhere might go crazy and do something,” Chokhavatia says. But then he noticed how many other apps featuring Modi there already were.

Narendra Modi is something of an oddity in India politics. In a country with a Westminster-style parliamentary system, he has attained almost presidential levels of popularity, driving votes for his party on the basis of personality and a fiery oration. As the Economist notes in its latest issue (paywall), in a country where politicians routinely pay citizens to attend political rallies, Modi charges an entrance fee. He is also popular among the educated and the young; Modi is the most-popular Indian politician on Twitter, with some 3 million followers. The prime minister has fewer than 1 million. Modi even has a nickname: NaMo. 

There’s an app—or a dozen—for that

A search for Modi on the Google Play store produces a dozen games and apps featuring the politician.Google Play

There are already at least a dozen games featuring Modi’s name and likeness on Google Play, the store for Android phones. (The first result on a search for the presumed Congress candidate, Rahul Gandhi, is called “Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi”.) Modi Run ”is an action game where politician Modi Runs through all the states and wins over the election to become Prime Minister of India.” It has been installed on between 500,000 and 1 million devices. Narendra Modi: Game, which has been installed between 50,000 and 100,000 times, promises, “in this journey you will get information about Narendra Modi’s development in every field.” Temple Lost Running Modi 2 Run, visible in the top-right-hand corner of the above image but which has vanished since this piece was written, combined the twin Hindu obsessions of Modi and the Ayodhya temple, which has simmered at the heart of India’s religious differences since 1992. Indeed, it is not just games. A group of businessmen claim to be producing a Modi-branded phone called “Smart Namo.” Supporters routinely don Modi masks for both political and cultural events.

To many, these are signs of a personality cult. But those involved in building the cult don’t believe that is the case. “We’re just giving people a fun game to play. We don’t think it is hurting or adding to his image,” Chokhavatia says. Similar games existed for film stars, he says, so he figured, why not make one featuring a politician? Strangely enough, he doesn’t plan to make an app featuring any other politicians.

Portfolios Distributed in Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 17 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today allotted portfolios to his council of ministers who were sworn-in on Saturday.

The chief minister retained Political and Cabinet, Vigilance, General Administration Department, Secretariat Administration Department, Department of Personal and Administrative Reforms, Information and Public Relations, PWD, Power and Electricity and District Council Affairs.

R. Lalzirliana retained Home and Rural Development and was also allocated Agriculture and Excise and Narcotics, Lalsawta got Finance.

Lalsawta was also allocated Finance, Planning and Programme Implementation, Taxation and Law and Judicial departments.

Former speaker R. Romawia was allocated Higher and Technical Education, Art and Culture, Land Revenue and Settlement and Parliamentary Affairs.

H. Rohluna was given School Education, Industries (including Geology and Mineral Resources) and Trade and Commerce.

Zodintluanga retained his earlier portfolios -- Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and Sports and Youth Services while he also got Public Health Engineering which was earlier held by S. Hiato, who was defeated.

P.C. Lalthanliana, earlier a Minister of State was elevated to the Cabinet and got Horticulture, Local Administration and Social Welfare.

Former Deputy Speaker John Rotluangliana got Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport and Tourism.

Among the Ministers of state - Lal Thanzara was allocated Health, Minor Irrigation and Information and Communication Technology while he would assist the Chief Minister in PWD and Power portfolios.

Lalrinmawia Ralte was allocated Environment and Forests, Cooperation, Labour, Employment and Industrial Training and Soil and Water Conservation.

C. Ngunlianchunga got A.H. And Veterinary, Disaster Management and Printing and Stationery, while Dr. B.D. Chakma got Sericulture and Fisheries.

In the new ministry, former ministers - J.H. Rothuama, P.C. Zoramsangliana, Lalrinliana Sailo and Nihar Kanti Chakma were not included.

Thanhawla To Undertake Consultations on Lifting Liquor Prohibition

Aizawl, Dec 16 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today said the new government would undertake wide consultations on the issue of lifting prohibition which is in force in the state since 1997.

In a press conference at the Raj Bhavan after the swearing-in ceremony, Thanhawla said the decision on prohibition would be taken with a lot of prayers and after consulting all sections of society.

He said the future of Bru people lodged in six relief camps in Tripura would be given serious consideration by the new government.

"We will try our best to end the stalemate and ensure that all the bonafide residents of Mizoram return," he said.

The government would make efforts to delete the names of those who refused to be repatriated.

The chief minister said that the portfolios of the newly inducted ministers would be allocated soon.

3/4 of Mizoram MLAs are Crorepatis

Aizawl, Dec 16 : Of the 40 newly-elected MLAs, 30 are crorepatis with former Mizo National Front minister K Sangthuama topping the MLAs rich list with assets worth more than Rs 25 crore.

The MNF MLA elected from Aizawl West-I constituency has movable assets worth Rs 59,35,022 crore and immovable assets valued at Rs 24,98,50,000 crore, and does not have permanent account number (PAN).

He is followed by chief minister Lal Thanhawla, who has declared movable assets worth Rs 1,75,45,981 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 7,40,00,000 crore. R Lalzirliana, of Congress, who has declared movable assets Rs 64,15,000 crore and immovable assets valued at Rs 5,84,00,000 crore, is the third richest MLAs.

Only two MLAs in the top ten - K Sangthuama and Lalruatkima - belong to the Mizo National Front, the rest being ruling Congress MLAs. The other MLAs in the top ten are: John Rotluangliana (Rs 6,44,11,000 crore), C Ngunlianchunga (Rs 5,92,09,873 crore), Hmingdailova Khiangte (Rs 5,60,55,613 crore), Hiphei (Rs 4,18,70,000 crore), P C Zoram Sangliana (Rs 3,85,68,562 crore), Lalruatkima (Rs 3,36,72,689 crore) and R Romawia (Rs 3,36,48,170 crore).

Five of them - K Sangthuama, R Lalzirliana, C Ngunlianchunga, Hmingdailova Khiangte, Hiphei - do not have PAN card. R Vanlalvena, of the Congress, who got elected from Aizawl South-I, is the poorest candidate with Rs 8,03,247 worth movable assets and immovable assets valued at Rs 21,00,000. As many as 26 of the 40 MLAs are re-elected.

The average wealth of these 26 re-elected MLAs are Rs 2.61 crore, which is a 254 percent (or Rs 1.87 crore) increase from their assets declared before the 2008 elections, according to an analysis of Mizoram Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

During the last five years, chief minister Lal Thanhawla recorded the highest increase of wealth, from Rs 2.22 crore in 2008 to Rs 19.15 crores in 2013.

However, it was pointed out that the five-time chief minister did not declare his four vehicles and LIC policy worth Rs 4 lakhs in his 2008 affidavit. None of the 40 MLAs has criminal case.

Mizoram’s Patriarchal Politics

By PATRICIA MUKHIM

















People wait at a polling station to cast their votes during the elections in Aizawl. (PTI) It’s been nearly two decades that fiery debates on gender equity and political participation of women have done the rounds of colleges and universities in this region. Seminars and workshops on the theme happen with predictable frequency. But none of the seven states of the region have a state policy for women. That is why all policies crafted by governments are gender neutral or gender blind, instead of being gender nuanced. A gender sensitive policy might have been able to address the practical and strategic needs of women and enabled them to overcome the entrenched gender prejudices that are so visible and palpable in patriarchal societies.

From the results of the recent Mizoram polls we can safely conclude that all the literature produced and the discussions and seminars organised on the theme of gender equity and political participation of women have had no impact at all. This is yet another election in Mizoram where not a single woman candidate was elected. The Congress,which claims to be more woman-friendly and even feigned to pass the 33 per cent reservation for women’s bill in Assemblies and Parliament is interestingly very quiet about fielding more women candidates to the Mizoram Assembly. The Congress put up only one woman candidate out of 40. The Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) and the BJP fielded one and three women respectively. Even the former chairperson of the Mizoram Public Service Commission, B. Sangkhumi, who contested as an Independent, failed to win the seat.

Not that the scenario has changed much in the rest of the country! However, considering that the Congress, the BJP and even the Aam Aadmi Party have women spokespersons who can wax eloquent about the party’s wins or losses and engage on several other issues on TV on a daily basis, women in Mizoram are more seen than heard. So what does this tell us about the status of women in Mizoram? Has education changed anything at all? What are the reasons behind the patriarchal biases? Yet it is not as if women are indifferent to politics. Mizoram is the only state from among the four others that went to the polls this time where women outnumbered men at the polling booths. Out of a total electorate of 690,860, women voters outnumbered men by 9,806. It, therefore, means that women themselves are active practitioners of the patriarchal roles that have conditioned them for centuries.

Women slighted

A book authored by Lalneihzovi of Mizoram University on Changing status of women in North East India gives an interesting dimension of the position of Mizo women. A chapter by Lianzela in the same book talks about the aphorisms in Mizo society that devalue women. Some of these sayings are: “A woman’s opinion is no opinion at all; crabs and women don’t have any religion; a wife and a rotten fence can always be changed; a woman’s wisdom does not cross the other side of the village well; a barking dog and a woman who yells should not be paid attention to.”

With such derogatory notions forming their worldview since childhood, it is but natural that women would lag behind. Above all, Mizo women do not inherit any property. Lianzela says that in early times, women were not even allowed to face the altar/pulpit from where the preacher preaches. They were instructed to face the side because it was felt that their looks were devilish and deceptive and could distract the preacher. Lianzela claims that the status of women changed with the coming of Christianity. But that is a claim that can be contested. The first woman MBBS doctor from Mizoram, Dr Lalengi, graduated only in 1964; the first woman MSc in 1961 and the first woman MCom in 1970. Interestingly, although Christianity in Mizoram is about 200 years old, the first woman to get a Bachelor’s degree in Divinity (BD) did so only in 1977. Another got her masters in theology only in 1985. These statistics tell us how difficult it is for women to claim their space within the Church.

Private domain

Mizoram has not seen any woman legislator in the last two decades. In the recent Assembly elections, of the 142 candidates fielded, there were only six women aspirants of which not a single one was elected.

Tlangthanmawii, the state Mahila Congress president, and Lalmalsawmi of the MNF were both defeated. Even the women candidates put up by the BJP were badly defeated, having secured the minimum number of votes. What is ironic is that even the former president of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or Mizo Women’s Federation, B. Sangkhumi, was defeated. Ever since Mizoram became a Union Territory in 1973 and a full-fledged state in 1987, there have been only three women legislators. Among them, Lalhimpuii Hmar of the MNF was a minister in the government led by the late Laldenga in 1987. Although the Women’s Welfare Front which has grassroots presence and is constituted by women members of village councils across the state has been actively spearheading the campaign for women candidates before the Assembly polls, they could not ensure even a single win.

Sociologist Subhankar Goswami is quoted as saying, “The Mizo society in pre-modern times was based on what is known as an extreme patriarchy. This created ‘private’ and ‘public’ domains, where women were confined to the private sphere that further relegated their status in the social and religious life. Women, therefore, had no opportunities to go beyond the scope of the ‘domestic sphere’ and it was only men who controlled and dominated the entire ‘public sphere’. They were not supposed to have any independent religious loyalty, but were required to follow the religion of their husbands.”

In a statement that could well be self-contradictory, Goswami says, “Christianity, of course, is the harbinger of modernity as well as women’s liberation in Mizoram. The Christian missionaries are regarded as a symbol of modernisation that led to gradual changes in the conservative attitudes of men towards women.”

Wrong mindset

Lalneihzovi, a Mizo scholar, while looking at reasons why women have failed to make it to the state Assembly, says that people still look at men as natural leaders and the notion that women are not capable of holding responsible positions is still very strong in the minds of people. However, in the 2006 election to the village council, as many as 33 women candidates were elected, out of the 556 seats. Could this be the game changer starting at the grassroots? This remains to be seen but the fact of the matter is that while patriarchy is sought to be dismantled brick by brick in the larger Indian society, it seems to be a tall order in this tribal state which otherwise has all the makings of a modern, progressive state. At least it does to the casual onlooker.

But that is precisely the problem. While women dominate the economic space (Mizo women are visible in the marketplace), the legislature seems like a distant dream for them. So where does the fault lie? What is the game-changer here? Mizoram is termed as a Christian state but perhaps the Church has not done enough to empower women. Maybe this is where the problem lies since the influence of the Church is overwhelming. But does the Church believe in women’s empowerment?

(The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)

Tawang, W Siang record season's first snowfall

Itanagar, Dec 16 : Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh has recorded the season's first snowfall since last Wednesday, bringing cheer to local residents as well as tourists.

With the temperature plummeting below zero degree celsius, moderate snowfall was also recorded at Sella Pass, located at an altitude of 13,721 feet from the sea level, on the Tawang-Bomdila road, official sources informed on Saturday.

The district which borders China, received a few inches of snowfall in the past three days. The snowfall in Tawang town is comparatively less than in the adjoining areas of the district, sources said. People preferred to remain indoors due to sharp dip in temperature, sources said.

According to locals, snowfall on or before Torgya, a three-day monastic festival celebrated in the renowned Tawang monastery in January, is considered a good omen.

Tourists and locals took to the streets, celebrating the first snowfall of the season and clicking photographs. Snowfall has also been recorded at the mountains of Mechukha Valley in West Siang district since the last couple of days.

The entire valley is reeling under a cold wave, sources added.

How to UNSHRINK clothes

How To Unshrink Clothes After the Laundromat Turns Them Into Teensy Doll Clothes

“That’s an adorable dress -- your daughter must be very stylish.”

By Sable Yong

 

I’ve come a long way since mom used to separate my lights and darks and dress me in matching separates most likely made of rayon or Lycra. In fact, I’m been pretty damn good at taking care of my personal effects, clothes being the highest maintenance probably.

 

I mean, you’ve got to look at the tag, and then interpret those weird hieroglyphic-looking symbols about how to wash a garment. What does triangle mean? Why is X on the triangle?? Now the triangle looks like an ocean wave is running through it -- where is the consistency, people who make clothing labels! 

 

I learned from the best as far as keeping it flossy goes (thanks Mom), so imagine my dismay upon laundering a vintage dress I won on eBay that was described as “probably polyester or acrylic,” only to discover it was at least 2 sizes smaller after drying. Bad on my part for absentmindedly throwing it in the dryer after a cold wash thinking, “This has probably been washed and dried tons of times; it is from the past, after all…”

 

Well guess what, eBay username I can’t remember -- this shit was most definitely not all synthetic. There had to be some wool in there somewhere, because it shrank so much that when I pulled it out of the dryer heap to fold it, the lady at the Laundromat folding next to me was like “That’s an adorable dress -- your daughter must be very stylish” which, OK thanks.

 

I asked my best friend, The Internet, what I should do. She is always so helpful! And also the first one to tell me I have some sort of cancer if I search any symptoms I have when I’m feeling under the weather. Get a grip, The Internet -- it was just a baby flu (not to be confused with adolescent or mature flu).

 

So I tried this method that every housewife who has uttered the words, “My lord, they just grow like weeds, don’t they!” swears by. All you need is either baby shampoo or hair conditioner. Some say baby shampoo works better, but others say that there’s no difference. The idea is that both formulas loosen the fibers of a garment and also make it soft and silky and manageable.

 

Oh wait, I’m just reading the back of the conditioner bottle.

 

So yeah. You pretty much just chuck the shrunken garment, whatever it may be, into a bucket or your bathroom sink if you don’t own a bucket (it’s 2013, do people still have buckets?), fill with lukewarm water and enough baby shamps or hair conditioner to turn it into a luxurious bubble bath. Now, massage! Yeah, treat that babified item of clothing to some first class bubbles!

 

Don’t you hate sitting in a rapidly-cooling tub as your bubbles disperse even faster?

 

OK. Bathtime is over. Unstop your sink/empty your bucket and gently wring your garment of most of the water. If you have a towel around -- and duh, of course you probably own at least one towel -- lay it out on a table and put the wet garment on top. Now roll! And then squeeze it like a tube of Go-Gurt. This is the best way to squeeze water out of clothes without wringing it out of shape. Because you’re about to do that next! 

 

Alternatively, this is a great space-saving way to pack clothes

Once you unroll your wet burrito, start to stretch the garment into what you remember to be it’s original shape. If you’re a real masochist you can don the damp thing on your body and shape it that way via air-dry. And walk around your house feeling all icky with only the hopes and dreams of sartorial salvation to keep you squelching forth. 

 

Sooo I’m kind of into stripes, you guys.

After my dress was fully dry and fragrant with the lovely scent of my Moroccan Oil conditioner (I got it in bulk from a friend who works for the company, so this is kind of as close as I get to poppin’ bottles, you know?) I tried to zip it up and managed to get it all the way up to my neck without feeling like I was going to dislocate my shoulder. Success!

 

It’s still a hair tighter than before I washed it but I’m so glad I can actually wear it again because I only got one wear out of that thing before it got shrink-rayed. I know, I know, it’s kind of gross to buy vintage clothes and just wear it without washing first because WHO KNOWS WHERE IT’S BEEN but I have no excuse, only impatience. And this adorable children’s’ dress apparently. 

 

“Here’s to you, ‘Vintage 60s Op Art SPACE AGE Circle Cut Out Pocket Mod Mini Dress Twiggy S

source: xojane.com