Bollywood Gets 'Boot-ilicious'

Sexy stilettos and sleek sandals, it's time to give all these uber chic dainty footies a 'boot'. Our style divas are going for the latest craze, 'boots'. Here's a gander at few of them...

Go all the boot-y way as the Sri Lankan hottie Jacqueline opts. The beauty sizzles in a dazzling pair of silver boots matching with her silver shorts that accentuate her hot bod.

Bipasha Basu has fallen for the boot charm as it is evident as the actresses kicked some serious butt in them. This glam goddess is putting the right 'boot' forward.

If you have a great pair of legs and want to flaunt them, then Rakhi Sawant's style is best to go for. The item queen knows it all, how to make men go week in knees with her oomph factor.

Self-confessed boots-lover, Kareena Kapoor has always made a style-statement with her fav. knee-high boots and to combine it with a pair of shorts is the latest fad this season.

Priyanka Kothari's ankle length pair is perfect for those who want a biker chick look. Grabbing eyeballs these days are stylish boots lurking among the well-heeled stylish brigade and the hot actress is one of these.

For Sherlyn Chopra, boots reflect power and rugged individualism and they definitely give a style edge over others. The ardent boot-lover swears by its rock-star look.

Shruti Hassan agrees that the boots style are definitely here to stay and they are great to try new looks from boho-chic to the rock-goddess look. They provide the rare combination of comfort and style to the actress.

A knee-cut stilleto kind seems to be Jiah Khan's favourites. They make her feel ultra-sexy and reflect her true self, perfectly. They make a style statement like nothing else for the sizzling actress.

The bootilicious babe, Koena Mitra flirts with her wild side and steps out with a new frame of mind, rough, tough and ready to rock in these trendy boots!

Never mind the soaring temperatures, boots in all their avatars are fast becoming a part of every fashionista's wardrobe, from ankle-high ones to the ones that ride well-above the knees all are in style and Kangana's black ones are perfect for a formal evening.

This leggy stunner, Lara Dutta looks good in anything. But these mid-thigh length boots in animal prints take hottie to another level. The printed boots are the best next thing with a LBD (Little Black Dress).

Amrita Arora's pair keeps her warm and makes her look chic, both at the same time. The actress seems to be dressed for a barn dance or a trip to the rodeo. Yeehaw!

Smitten by their cuts and curves, women from the glam brigade have taken to them and Minissha Lamba is one of them. The actress wears her attitude on her sleeve or should we say on her foot?

Dimasa Mothers Try To Justify Renaming NC Hills

Sinlung Says: Dimasas as everyone is aware are trying to re-write History. History contains facts and fiction. But it will be facts that stand the test of time. Hmars, Kukis, Zemes and all other inhabitants of NC Hills cannot be displaced with mere mentioning of Dimasa kings which no one recalls or we may call them myths.

It is for all to see that the new name of North Cachar Hills District of Assam was sold and bought using corruption, which the CBI is still investigating.

This is what Dimasa mouthpiece ‘The Sentinel Assam’ had to say- wondered if this is a News article or a propaganda machine.

Anyway…everyone knows the truth…let NC Hills bifurcation happen before more bloodshed happens…Are you listening Assam Govt?

Silchar, Jun 6 : Dimasa Mothers’ Association (DMA) recollects and recreates historical background to claim that the Dimasas were the earliest settlers of the district. There was no other tribe or community except some short statured Simi people who lived in caves.

Confronted by the soldiers of Dimasa king, they left the forested area. Swaruprani Hagjer, publicity secretary of DMA, added to say that the Kukis and Hmars were the same tribe who came from the neighboring States of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Hmars, she clarified, came to be known as a separate tribe after 1955-57 with the arrival of the Kukis sometime in the 19th century in the district.

The first chief executive member of the then district council, CH Khotlang, was a Kuki and not Hmar who was elected from the Kuki inhabited constituency of Khunglong in 1952.

He agreed to become chief executive member on the advice of Joybhadra Hagjer, the then MLA, who was later inducted as a Cabinet Minister in Assam. On the other hand, the Zeme Nagas came to the districts after being attacked by the Angamis and they sought shelter of the Dimasa king to which he agreed and they became his subjects.

The Dimasa king even offered them some Dimasa titles in order to maintain cordial relations. According to her, the Dimasas are the earliest settlers and renaming the district as Dima Hasao was done on the basis of historical background.

Why should the minority tribes like Kuki, Hmar and Zeme Naga oppose the changed nomenclature of the district?

Why don’t they want to live in peaceful coexistence with Dimasas?

Why should they feel discriminated and neglected when they are treated equally and on just terms’ Swaruparani Hagjer asked.

The Indigenous People’s Forum and Indigenous Students’ Forum, she pointed out, alleged that the Dimasas are not a hill people. She countered to say that one has to go through historical records in order to find out the fact that the Dimasas have been living in the district much before the arrival of Kukis, Hmars and Zemes.

It is on this count, she reminded, that constitutionally Dimasas living in this district as well as in Karbi Anglong have been recognized as scheduled tribe (hills).

Regarding the percentage of population, she quoted 2001 census to establish that Dimasas constitute 55 per cent of the total tribal population and 43 per cent of the whole population of the district.

Swaruparani Hagjer asserted that except the Zeme Nagas, Hmars and Kukis, other non Dimasa tribes are not against the Dimasa people.

Nor do they are opposed to the naming of the district as Dima Hasao. Besides all other non tribal communities- Bengalees, Assamese, Manipuris, Nepalis, Hindi speaking people and Sikhs are not against the Dimasa community.

It is only a handful of people and their organizations which are misguiding the tribals and non tribals of the district for their narrow and selfish political gains.

Central Team Visits Mizoram Villages Affected by Storms

Aizawl, Jun 6 : The Inter-Ministerial Central Team led by Shri Lokesh Jha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs visited the Mizo villages affected by the cyclonic storms / hailstorms during March to April 2010.

The Team is assisted by Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DM&R) Director V. Sapchhunga and DM&R Staffs, Aizawl District Horticulture Officers and I&PR Officers.

The Team inspected the Horticulture greenhouses and cultivations destroyed by the hails and storms in Durtlang and Sihphir yesterday and had discussions with the Durtlang Gardeners’ Society and Mizoram Iskut Growers’ Association.

From there, the Team proceeded to Bukpui and North Chaltlang and verified the conditions of damage in the area. The Team was received by C. Khamluaia, S.Dy.M, Kolasib District on behalf of Kolasib DC.

The Inter-Ministerial Team today visited Aibawk and Thenzawl, there they were received by Serchhip DC H. Darzika and District Officers at Thenzawl.

The Team were informed of the damages in Serchhip District and limited funding for the relief work. The Team were also taken to the spots for verification and interaction with the affected persons.

Manipur CM Says ‘Will Walk The Extra Mile’

Imphal, Jun 6 : Its Manipur's longest highway blockade in recent memory and with the food and supply situation going from bad to worse the CM has agreed to walk the extra mile to break the deadlock.

"We are discussing not just financial powers even including delegation more admin power," said Ibobi Singh, Manipur Chief Minister.

When asked as to whether he is ready to concede to all the demands, he said, "No, there should be some limits but let them give us suggestions we have no hesitation to give any further amendment."

The fact that he is ready to walk that extra mile could be seen as the first indication of a possible breakthrough to the economic blockade imposed by Naga pressure groups in the hills of Manipur demanding greater autonomy.

Meanwhile the CM has passed on the responsibility to the Centre for hammering out a solution with these groups and the militant outfit NSCN(IM) supporting the blockade.

"I've repeatedly told the Centre that because of their talks we can't suffer. The Centre should be more serious, " the CM added.

The longest eco blockade in Manipur in recent memory was in 2005 a 52 day blockade, that record has now been broken but one of the most critical areas of concern for people is cooking gas which has run out. Whatever was available in the black-market for about Rs 1200 too has run out and so people have resorted to cooking with firewood or husk.

However, everyone doesn't have provision of cooking with firewood. 

Kavita, a Khumbong resident, says she needs to refill cooking gas urgently. " I have to manage a family of seven members, I need to cook for them. I am really worried," she said.

A convoy of six hundred trucks with essential commodities will be escorted over the weekend but for a state crippled under one of the longest economic embargo more political will be required to clear the blockades.

Watch Topless Bipasha Basu (NSFW)

It's an uncanny coincidence that just as Bipasha Basu announced her plans to join Twitter, an ad film featuring the bombshell sans clothes has surfaced on YouTube. The ad also features actor Vivek Oberoi.

The ad film was shot long time back as a part of an international assignment in 1999 when both the actors were working as models. It was a television commercial for the New York Lotto but was shot in India. The ad is directed by Ken Nahoum. The video is posted online by Tommy Kane, who was the art illustrator for this ad.

Mumbai Mirror quotes Bipasha's manager saying: "Bipasha had done this ad in 1999 when she was modelling for Ford Modelling Agency in New York. It was done as an international assignment and was meant for the international market. I don't know why such an old ad has surfaced now.

Everything said and done, Bipasha Basu and Vivek Oberoi share a wonderful chemistry in this ad.

Baichung Bhutia Calls For Peace in Manipur

Imphal, Jun 6 : India's football icon Baichung Bhutia speaks out on the tension in Manipur which is blockaded by the NSCN supporters for almost two months even as the state government deployed forces to keep Thuingaleng Muivah out.

"I hope there is peace in Manipur and Nagaland, because at the end of the day it's the common people who are suffering. I hope peace prevails and the people are not into trouble. Common person is suffering," Bhutia said.

Meanwhile, the state government has deployed state forces at Liyai Khunou and Jessami near the Nagaland border in Ukhrul district to prevent entry of NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

Official sources said today that about 200 police personnel and border security forces have been deployed at both the villages.

Muivah, who attempted to enter Manipur along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 39 last month by camping at Viswema in Nagaland, had moved to Pfutsero in that state in an attempt to cross into Ukhrul district via Jessami and Liyai Khunou.

The senior Naga rebel leader, who hails from Somdal in Manipur's Ukhrul district, left his village about 40 years ago to wage an armed struggle.

The state government and many civil organisations here were of the view that Muivah's attempt to enter Manipur would create communal disharmony as the main demand of the NSCN-IM now was to form a greaterNagaland by taking Naga-settled areas of Manipur with the present Nagaland state, official sources said.

Muivah on Friday wound up his camp at Visema village on the Nagaland-Manipur border where he had been camping since May 5 and went to Pfutsero, Nagaland's highest altitude town, 70 km away by road on a 'peace mission'.

Kids in The Pits

By Sanjib Kr Baruah

Shillong, Jun 6 : At 13, Badal Rai's days are filled with nightmares. Every day, early in the morning, he lowers himself into a one-metre-diameter hole in the ground and descends deep into the darkness below. With a torchlight fitted to one side of his head, the frail-framed boy crawls and starts digging with his pickaxe for coal - for Rs 200 a day. Welcome to the hellish world of Meghalaya's rat-hole mines, a place where the sun never rises.

Claustrophobia is a non-issue. Rai's fears are whether the deep burrow will cave in to bury him alive or whether he will be able to gasp for breath when water fills the narrow tunnel. In vain are his dreams of going back home with enough money to his parents in Nepal.

Tales of frequent accidents and deaths due to cave-ins of mine walls, sudden floods, falls in the pits and suffocation abound in these death holes, as do stories of quiet burials.

"In my five years here, I have seen and heard about countless accidents which occur with alarming regularity. Deaths are commonplace. There is no one to keep track. Everything is given a quiet burial here," says Purno Lama, a 34-year-old mine manager from Lad Rymbai, about 19 km away from Jowai, the district HQ of Jaintia Hills. "Children are preferred because the rat holes are small in size and it is not easy for large-sized adults to enter these tunnels," he says.

While the local media have often reported such accidents, it is difficult to quantify these accidents. The reason: coal mining is an unregulated activity in Meghalaya because of Sixth Schedule laws that permit private ownership. There are no registration laws for the labour employed nor are antecedents of the miners verified. With no documenting authority and lack of health facilities, almost all deaths and accidents go unreported.

"Getting the exact figure of deaths or accidents is impossible as none of the mines are government-registered. Whatever we know has come out through interactions with child miners and managers working in the coal pits," says Hasina Kharbhih, team leader of the Shillong-based Impulse NGO Network that has been doing seminal work on the child miners.

"During my last visit to a coal mine near 8 Kilo in Jaintia Hills on April 22, it was a child miner who passed on the information that an accident in his mine had killed a teenager just three days prior to my visit," she says.

Meghalaya is estimated to contain about 600 million tonnes of coal reserves. There are approximately 5,000 rat-mines, most of them located in the coal-rich Jaintia Hills in places like Lad Rymbai, Lad Sutnga, Bapung, Lakadong and Khliehriat.

The mines are of various shapes and sizes. Some are just a small and crude opening of one-metre diameter where Rai works, some have big openings of about 36 sq metres and are equipped with creaky bamboo ladders to the bottom of the shaft which can be about 500 feet deep with four rat-hole tunnels leading away at the bottom. It is to these narrow burrows that child miners are made to crawl to chip away at a coal seam.

These primitive rat holes pockmark much of Jaintia Hills' undulating landscape which must have been a sight to behold before the mad rush for coal raped the lush green region of its natural beauty.

"The inhuman conditions in the mines have to be seen to be believed. No medical facilities exist and safety equipment for the child miners is something never heard of. There is no water supply, no sanitation facilities," says Kharbhih.

Robbed of their childhood, the child miners are a submissive lot here because of threats, beatings and corporal punishments like being locked away in mine shafts in the darkness for long periods of time. In many cases, these children have been sold by their own relatives for as little as Rs 5,000.

Mine-owners deny the use of children in the mines. "No children are employed in the mines. They are like our own children, why will we push them to the mines," asks Wonderful Shullai, an owner of five working mines. But he keeps mum on being asked if he can vouch the same for all the mines.

[ via Hindustan Times ]

The Mobile Theatre That Rocks Assam

By Shreya Roy Chowdhury

Despite bomb blasts and terror attacks, the mobile theatre Kahinoor continues to be a runaway hit in the boondocks of Assam

Jatin Bora lives in rooms with gaping doorways, uses bathrooms with no basins and sleeps in beds without mattresses. But he earns a staggering Rs 39 lakh a season — 10 months — for his pains. Bora, 40, is the Shah Rukh Khan of the ‘mobile’ Kahinoor Theatre, which performs to packed houses in the remotest outposts of Assam.

Kahinoor Theatre is masala unlimited — dances, romantic romps, good-natured teasing, a dash of violence and, occasionally, a triple role for its lead man. The hero fights with friends, saves the heroine from villains, and defends his homeland in war. In the interiors of Assam, these plays stand in for films, the troupe performing at over 70 locations between August and April. They have even performed their own version of Ben Hur, Jurassic Park and Titanic, which ran for a record four years.

Itinerant it may be, but the 34-year-old outfit does not travel light: lights, tents, sets, cookingware and 2,100 chairs are carted from village to village. Last month, they performed for the first time outside Assam, in Delhi. The posters are unabashedly filmi, with the opening credits as long as any film’s. A mix of stock footage — horses, rapids, hills — forms the background. “Kahinoor Theatre” slips out from behind a rotating earth to take position in front — remember Universal? “We’re experts at chamak,” laughs the troupe’s 70-year-old producer, Ratan Lahkar. Special effects, such as they are, are almost entirely manual. Viewers can see both the hand moving the light and the trolleys used for backdrop changes.

Touring uninterrupted for months is a challenge . The hero may get respect and love from his fans but he still has to carry his bedding along. Where possible, Bora is allowed a luxury accommodation in a PWD guesthouse that may be as far as 15 km from the performance venue. His entourage consists of a driver for his Innova and a ‘caretaker’. Still, he could have done worse. At least he didn’t have to build his own toilet by placing bamboo poles over a pit. Lahkar, who shared that experience at Rampur with actor Mahananda Sarma in the 70s, relates with relish and helpless giggles the unfortunate incidents related to the makeshift contraption.

Poorly maintained cinema halls and frequent bomb blasts have affected the film industry, he says, but Kahinoor has flourished. One reason for this could be that Lahkar is daring in his choice of scripts, even introducing the classics to a rural audience. With a master’s in political science, he’s one of the first educated artistes to join mobile theatre and widen its horizons. Over the last three decades, Kahinoor has produced plays based on The Mayor of Casterbridge, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the Greek and Indian epics. Sophocles, Shakespeare, Sudraka are all part of their repertoire.

The mobile theatre remains a largely male world. Of the 120 members in Kahinoor, less than a dozen are women. “People know what kind of lifestyle it is,” says Aichengfa Boruah, Kahinoor’s 28-year-old heroine. “( But) My parents believe in me.” This is her first stint with a mobile theatre. Girls, she says, stay with small families and are well taken care of. “They cook what we like, give us gamuchas (cotton scarf) and stay in touch,” says Boruah. “The boys in the team are like bhaiyyas.” She, like Bora, has her own car, driver and a caretaker who cooks for her. Her college-professor mother encourages her fiancé, a Guwahati-based businessman, to chaperon her. “He’s seen me perform so many times, he must know the scripts by heart,” she laughs.

The only problem is there isn’t a break. “Even if we die, we can’t stop,” she says dramatically. She once performed with a festering boil that she’d taken antibiotic injections for. “In three plays, I had five dances. I got picked up and flung about. It was painful.” Bora’s father was in the ICU with a brain tumour on the first day he performed for Kahinoor, back in 2007. The play was Abuj Dara Achin Kaina (Insensitive Bridegroom, Unknown Bride) where he had a triple role — possibly a first in theatre — of a film actor, a policeman and a dwarf. He recalls, “I was under a lot of stress. But kisi bhi condition mein (in any condition), the show must go on.”