Music From The Northeast – Bands I Like

By Kunal Pawar

Last Sunday, I read an article in HT Brunch, which focused on people from the North-Eastern part of India. It was about the different people who had made a mark in certain fields like sports, fashion, music and so on. Well I was looking for bands to be featured in the music section, but all I found were contestants from Indian Idol and other shows.

So I thought, why not make a list of bands that I like from the North-East and write about it. So here’s a list of 4 bands that are making waves currently and probably you will hear a lot more over the coming year.

In no particular order:

1. Silver Tears – Silver Tears is a progressive/experimental band from Guwahati that recently won the Yamaha Music India – Asian Beat 2011 held in Bangalore last month which gives them a chance to perform in Korea in November on an international stage. They released their debut EP ‘Dirt Beyond Beauty’ which was recently re-recorded under the name ‘Ensnared’. I got a chance to listen to their songs here . ‘Dirt beyond Beauty’ is by far the best song on this album. They don’t try to overdo their progressive influence which can be so easy to do. They keep it simple with guitar riffs thrown in between. But never does it seem like useless guitar wankering.  I look forward to their complete album.

Silver Tears is -

Vocals: Girish Pradhan
Guitars: Ishan Das
Guitars: Brittanta Das Mahanta
Bass: Biswajit Chakraborty
Keyboards: Raktim Mahanta
Drums: Nawaz Hussain
Sound Engineer- Diganta Sharma

Silver Tears

2. Pip Of The Fourth Mother – I heard about them when I saw a RSVP for a Punk Night at Blue Frog and I was like what kind of a weird name is that!! But thankfully their music is not that weird. POT-FM are a 3 piece alternative/ pop punk band from Shillong. They cite bands such as Papa Roach, Blink-182, The Offspring and NOFX as their influences.  I wish I could remember the names of the songs they played at Blue Frog, but I remember being blown away by the quality of their music. Also they covered a song of Pussycat Dolls and gave it whole new twist ( I think it was ‘careful what you wish for..you just might get it’ or something like that) . Their most famous song is ‘Shillong’ which is a perfect pop punk track, is dedicated to their hometown and was part of a compilation called ‘v/s The World’. I would definitely have their forthcoming album ‘Lun’ on my iPod

POT-FM are :

Jason Manners – Guitar/Vocals
Ben Daniel Ryngksai – Drums
Dauni Laloo – Bass

Pip Of The Fourth Mother

Going insane at Blue Frog

p.s  Pip means troublemaker and Jason Manner’s mum was the fourth sibling, and he was quite a troublemaker. Hence the name

3. Lucid Recess - Lucid Recess is a 3 piece alternative metal/ rock band from Guwahati. They released their full length album ‘Engraved Invitation’ last year and with it established themselves as one of the better bands in the country. I have really caught on late onto this band (sometime last month) so I am trying to listen to more of their songs as and when time permits. ‘Tribe’, their single from this album received a lot of rave reviews. Other songs that I like are ‘Painstaking Obsession’, ‘Colourful Deja Vu’ (very Incubus like) and ‘Lost’. I am listening to their songs as I write this and I have fallen in love with them!

Lucid Recess is -

Amitabh Barooa – Vocals & Bass
Siddharth Barooa – Guitars & Backing Vocals
Partha Boro – Drums and Percussions

Lucid Recess

4. Soulmate – I had never heard Blues before I discovered Blackstratblues and then tripped onto Soulmate and I have really started loving this genre! Soulmate is a two piece band consisting of Rudy Wallang and Tipriti Kharbangar backed by accompanists. Their music is easy to hear and creates a lasting impression on you. You can play their music on loud at home late in the night, on a rainy day, in your car on a long drive or on that romantic first date. Tipriti has an insane quality about her voice wherein she can scream and sing mellow both with equal aplomb and Rudy Wallang is one of the foremost guitar players in the country. Their latest album ‘Moving On’ was released by Blue Frog records in 2009. They are currently going to play in Norway but I will get a chance to watch them play at Blue Frog on the 20th of this month!! I like all their songs but personal favourites  have to be ‘Set me free’ , ‘Come round my house’, ‘The Price’ and ‘Blues is my soulmate’.

You can hear their music on Myspace

(Left to Right)Leon Wallang,Shaun Nonghulo,Tipriti Kharbangar,Fredy Dhkar,Rudy Wallang

Vocalist Tipriti Kharbangar *sigh*

So this is a list of bands that I like and would definitely want to listen to more often in the future. If you guys know any band that you would like me to write about, it would be welcome. Also suggestions for new topic ideas?

There was no guest writer for this Sunday, as all our friends are kind of pissed off that we don’t offer them any monetary incentive to write for us considering how famous we are and that we make a ton of money. Rest assured we are working out an amicable solution.

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Kunal Pawar did not go for two gigs in two days last weekend but still managed to spend all his money. But with some divine intervention he will be going for Shaa’ir n Func and Soulmate at Blue Frog in the coming week. He will be learning to play a simple song on the guitar soon.

Source: http://aswethinkis.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/music-from-the-north-east-bands-i-like/

Crude Oil Seepage Hits Naga Villages

By Rahul Karmakar

A leaking drilling point of an oil pipe of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is pictured in Changpang village, some 120 kms away from Wokha district of India's north eastern state of Nagaland on September 9, 2011. Large amount of crude oil leaking from an improperly capped oil well has affected the surrounding environment,as well as villagers' lives. The ONGC shut down its drilling of the crude oil due to social unrest in 1994. An estimated geological reserve of 110 million barrels of oil with a recoverable reserve of approximately 1,600 barrels per day is reportedly available in the Changpang village oil fields.

Changpang (Nagaland), Sep 12 : Sitting on one of India's richest hydrocarbon reserves can be uncomfortable. Around 3,000 people of Changpang, Tssori and a few nearby villages in Nagaland's Wokha district have learnt it the hard way. Crude oil seepage from abandoned wells for 17 years has hit the soil and groundwater
and consequently, people's health and the local economy.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) struck oil in the area in 1981 and began extracting crude from 11 wells. But the locals and militant groups questioned the agreement between the state and ONGC, alleging that the mandatory consent of local bodies was not taken.

In March 1994, the state had to stop the operations, despite earning a royalty of R33.3 crore since March 1981.

ONGC capped the wells, but lack of maintenance and tampering of the equipment by miscreants led to seepage.

In August 2010, state geology and mining director HK Chishi reported "heavy spillage" and the state pollution control board marked 4sqkm as affected. The state asked ONGC to clean up the mess, which offered to send a team. But a cabinet sub-committee objected, saying they hadn't received "all the correspondence between the mining department and ONGC".

"No one seems sincere about solving the problem," said M Yanathung Ngullie, president of Changpang Land Owners' Union. "The local economy, which depended on traditional jhum cultivation (which involves slashing and burning vegetation on hill slopes), has gone for a toss. With all the seepage, people are scared of wildfire."

Many are complaining of eye burning and uterus and kidney complications, which were unheard of earlier, he said. "And in these 17 years, indigenous plants have been swamped by species like lantana and mimosa which, ecologists say, are a precursor to desertification."

Changpang gaonburah (village chieftain) Myingthungo N Kithan, 50, is fed up with appealing to the government. "I have asked the government to erase Changpang from the map if it cannot help us," he said.

State chief secretary Lalthara said: "The matter has been referred to a cabinet subcommittee."

Dice Foundation, a Kohima-based NGO, has filed a PIL at Gauhati high court. The case will be heard on Monday. "We have sought compensation of R1,000crore. We hope justice is done," said Mmhonlumo Kikon, chief of the NGO.

1,000 Trucks And Tankers Leave Imphal With Security Escort

Imphal, Sep 12 : Over 1,000 empty trucks and oil tankers with security escort left in Imphal on Sunday for Jiribam to collect essential items, defying the ongoing blockade on the National Highway 53, to ease the food crisis in Manipur, official sources said.

"Police commandos and jawans of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) are escorting the vehicles on the Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar National Highway 53 in the wake of destruction of several food-laden trucks by those supporting the blockades at Khumbong yesterday," the sources said.

The vehicles, carrying essentials, are scheduled to return after three days, they said.

Jiribam, located about 222 km west of Imphal, is a town bordering Assam. Blockades have been continuing on two important roads -- Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway 39 and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar National Highway 53 in Senapati district -- for nearly one and a half months creating scarcity of essentials in the land locked state.

The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee has launched indefinite economic blockades on the two highways demanding conversion of Kuki-majority Sadar Hills into a full-fledged revenue district from August 1.

Opposing the demand, the United Naga council also launched blockades on the two highways since the middle of August.

Explore Northeast India From Top of Tree House

By Kanchuki Sarma

Hang in there...

Forget sedate resorts, opt instead for a house on stilts or a tree house in hidden corners of the heavenly North East...

It is amusing to see people travel far off to see new lands but opting for the familiar. If you would rather stay in a concrete building trying hard to pass off as a resort, and hunt for comfort food, no matter how bad it is, maybe you should sit at home and be an armchair traveler.

Alternatively, you could really immerse yourself in the place, live and eat as the locals do, even if it is for a couple of days, and come back with richer, everlasting memories. If your next holiday destination is the North East of India, try these options:

Chang Ghar or house on stilts

Majuli in Upper Assam is more than just 'the world's largest river island.' It is the hub of a unique sect of Hinduism thriving in Assam for centuries. The Mising tribe of Majuli, Assam, like many others in the region builds their houses on stilts. This was done as protection against the annual flooding of the Brahmaputra and also to protect their granary from the moisture in the soil.

When in Majuli, you can opt to stay in a guesthouse run by the Hindu monastery called Xatras or choose to stay in a unique lodge at the edge of the Mising village. The lodge is a joint venture by Danny, a local Mising boy, Jim Chauvin and Maka Korbaa, two young architects from France who fell in love with the island and decided to make it their second home.

The lodge is modeled on the Chang Ghar, the traditional Mising hut built on stilts but with certain modifications to ensure that it is more permanent than the traditional huts. It is called La Maison de Ananda (a combination of French and Assamese for House of Joy).

You can reach your rooms by climbing a short but steep log with steps carved on it. A lovely sit-out verandah that looks out to the rice fields lets you lounge all day if you'd like. If you venture out for a walk, you'll see villagers engaged in weaving, tending to livestock, mending boats, or going out to the fields. Located close by are the Sattras, or monasteries where you might find Hindu monks, experts in the classical dance called Sattriya nrittya, practising. If they feel generous enough, they might even show you a few steps on request.

An added attraction is that you share food with the Mising family next door where you are welcome to sit in the kitchen as the ladies go about preparing the fusion cuisine of Assamese and Mishing food consisting of dry fish, pork, rice and fish in a light mustard sauce.

Mawllyngong - the tree house
Did you ever dream of the seemingly impossible world created by the likes of Enid Blyton where kids had not only a room to themselves, but also a tree house in their backyard? You can relieve your childhood fantasy in a remote little village of Mawllyngong, in Meghalaya, a few kilometers from the Bangladesh border. Mawllynong is Meghalaya's best-kept secret; a mere 1.5 hours from Cherrapunjee, which is on the standard tourist circuit. It is a small village with a distinction - it has also earned the accolade of being the cleanest village in Asia, a title conferred by the Discovery Channel.

The guesthouse, constructed of bamboo and thatch, even has a bamboo balcony where a simple homemade meal is served. A small bamboo stairway leads to a crow's-nest, where under the leafy shade you can spend many an hour with just yourself and a book for company. Two small but comfortable rooms in the main hut and one small room in the attached hut is all that is available. So if you are keen to stay in this Garden-of-Eden, make sure you plan in advance.

Heritage homes in upper Assam
If the ethnic house in Mawllynong in the Khasi hills puts you in a mood for solidarity with nature, the heritage homes in Upper Assam, once the homes of British tea plantation owners, will make you feel like a true Sahib. Set amidst the lush tea plantations of Upper Assam, these bungalows were built in the beginning of the 20th century by the Burra Sahibs. The first of its sort to be converted into a heritage hotel is the Thengal Manor, which belongs to an old Assamese planter's family.

One such bungalow, the Mancotta Chang near the city of Dibrugarh, is built on stilts, so that the Sahib could get onto his elephant right from his bedroom. The large rooms in these bungalows are filled with beautifully crafted antique furniture made with sturdy teak. Sipping your moring cuppa, sitting on the opulent cane chairs in the verandah, you need little imagination to send you off into a different era.

Heritage homes are not limited to the tea-estates of Upper Assam. In the hill station of Shillong, once the capital of the region and another Raj-era town, many heritage houses are now offering stay options. Another option, the Lumsohpoh House is a haven in the chaos of today's Shillong, set in its own gardens overlooking the town.

With options ranging from homestays to community run guesthouses to Raj-era heritage homes, suited for all budgets, will you still opt for a star resort and insist on ordering butter chicken and naan on your travels?

**Kanchuki Sarma can be reached at leisure.mirror@indiatimes.com

Nehginpao Kipgen Interview with Chinland Guardian

 

Nehginpao Kipgen

The ongoing situation in Sadar Hills District, Manipur, India has attracted attention of not only the ethnic peoples in Northeast India but also the Chins from Burma.

The Chinland Guardian has conducted an interview with Nehginpao Kipgen, a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma (1947-2004) and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com).

He has written numerous analytical articles on the politics of Burma and Asia for many leading international newspapers in Asia, Africa, and the United States of America.

Chinland Guardian: We have read a lot about problems arising in Sadar Hills District in Manipur, India. Tell us briefly about it.

Nehginpao Kipgen: It is a demand for the implementation of the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council into a full-fledged district. It is an exercise of democratic rights by the people of Sadar Hills. On the eve of Manipur attaining statehood status in 1972, the Indian parliament passed the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. According to the Act, all the hill areas were to be divided into six autonomous districts, with the ultimate goal of a full-fledged district each.

The six autonomous districts were:
1. Manipur South (Churachandpur)
2. Manipur North (Senapati)
3. Manipur East (Ukhrul)
4. Manipur West (Tamenglong)
5. Sardar Hills (Kangpokpi)
6. Tengnoupal (Chandel)

Of the six autonomous districts, only Sadar Hills is left to be accorded a full-fledged district status. Autonomous district council is a sub-administrative unit of a full-fledged district that has to seek the approval of the district administration on all matters concerning executive, legislative, judicial and financial matters.

There is too much interference by the district administration. For example, the deputy commissioner of a full-fledged district can modify or change the budget passed by an autonomous district council administration. All taxes collected by the council are sent to the district administration.

The basic requirements for autonomy and self-government are lacking in autonomous district councils. On the other hand, a full-fledged district is an administrative unit headed by a deputy commissioner, a district magistrate, and a superintendent of police. The Sadar Hills district headquarters will come under the Kuki-majority urban town in Kangpokpi. In addition, Sadar Hills will enjoy all the benefits and privileges of a full-fledged district.

Chinland Guardian: Do you think this is also part of disputes and misunderstanding among tribal or ethnic groups dwelling in the area?

Nehginpao Kipgen: Unfortunately, politics in Manipur is largely driven along ethnic lines. The three major groups of people are the Meitei's, the Kukis, and the Nagas. They are of the same Mongoloid race, speaking Tibeto-Burman languages. The unbiased solution would be the implementation of the district in accordance with Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. You cannot demarcate a district boundary based on ethnicity in a state like Manipur. For instance, you can find all the three major ethnic groups in all districts of the state. If Sadar Hills district boundary were to be drawn along ethnic line, it can engender a chain of other demands in existing districts.

Chinland Guardian: Chin people expressed their concerns over the hunger strike in India, where more than 40 Kuki women also got involved. What happens now?

Nehginpao Kipgen: The hunger strike continues. Some are hospitalized; some others are arrested and incarcerated because of refusing medical aid. Both Manipur and Indian governments should take serious note of the gravity of this non-violent form of agitation. Mahatma Gandhi, who is regarded as father of the nation and highly revered around the world, successfully led independence movement against the British with his non-violent political weapon. The government has the responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens.

Human rights organizations such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities should assess the condition of the hunger strikers and extend any possible help. Human rights campaigners around the world should speak up for these voiceless peaceful hunger strikers. The international community must ensure that the lives of peaceful hunger strikers in India are not jeopardized for a legitimate political demand, and their fundamental rights should be protected. In this regard, pressure must be put on both the state and central governments to take urgent steps.

Leading international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International should use their influence to help the peaceful hunger strikers. In this regard, I have personally spoken to a number of officials.

Chinland Guardian: How have the local and Indian authorities responded and what could be the best solutions to this problem?

Nehginpao Kipgen: As mentioned earlier, the unbiased solution would be the implementation of the demand in accordance with Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. You cannot demarcate a district boundary based on ethnicity in a state like Manipur. The central government has advised the state government to expedite the process, but lacks concrete step. If the state government is unable to handle on its own, the central government needs to step in to resolve the problem at the earliest possible.

Chinland Guardian: Historically, it is said that Chin-Kuki-Mizo is a group of peoples with the same root being divided into different countries during the colonial times. How can the historical relationship be survived and strengthened in modern days?

Nehginpao Kipgen: We share the same root, and belong to one family. We need to focus on how and where we can work together. We should encourage on socio-cultural exchanges. Our unity can be strengthened by organizing international seminars and conferences, especially for the younger generation. In this regard, our leaders and academics should take the initiatives. We should focus on inclusive activities, and stay away from exclusive and detrimental activities. Every individual should use his or her talent and resources to promote peace and fraternity among us.

Chinland Guardian: Tell us more about a brief history of Kuki people and the Kuki International Forum.

Nehginpao Kipgen: Because of the British colonial administration, the Kuki people have been forced to live across international boundaries, notably in India, Burma, and Bangladesh. Many have also now lived around the world. The Kuki International Forum (KIF) was founded to serve as a common platform for the Kuki people across the globe.

The main goals are:

(i) To safeguard and promote the cultural heritages of the Kukis around the world.
(ii) To uphold peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding with other nations.
(iii) To educate and preserve the KUKIS’ national identity.
(iv) To represent the issues of the KUKIS.

Further information on the KIF and the Kuki people, you can visit www.kukiforum.com.

Chinland Guardian: Many thanks for your time and answers.

Nehginpao Kipgen: It’s my pleasure as well. Thank you!

Source: Chinland Guardian

228 people died of AIDS in Mizoram

Aizawl, Sep 11 : At least 228 people affected with full blown AIDS have died in Mizoram during the past two decades, officials said today.

Out of 1,58,220 blood samples tested since October, 1990 till July this year, 6,014 people were found to be infected with the dreaded virus, Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) Project Director Eric Zomawia said.

Zomawia said that 118 new HIV infections were detected during July this year alone and almost 70 per cent of those infected with HIV got infected through sexual contact.

While covert commercial sex workers and their customers were still the highest risk groups, intravenous drug users also easily contacted and propagated the virus, Zomawia said.

Microsoft Teases Windows 8 Feature

Could the '8' in Windows 8 represent how many seconds it takes Microsoft's newest operating system to boot?

A new video, posted on the Building Windows 8 blog, shows that the much-anticipated, re-designed followup to Windows 7 can boot from power-off to start screen on a notebook PC in under ten seconds. This would make it--as many of you running Windows 7 know--much, much faster than the current Windows.

Check this out:

Windows 8 is able to boot so quickly, according to the blog post, by putting the "kernel sesion" into hibernate mode rather than closing it down completely (as happens on current Windows machines). Rather than having to completely boot back up from nothing, your computer will now essentially come back from hibernate mode after you power down. For a full, more technical explanation of how Windows currently shuts down versus how it will shut down in Windows 8, read the Microsoft engineer's explanation here.

The cynics out there will say that it's a good thing this new Windows boots so quickly since you have to restart it so often, and the blog post even mentions that the team is working on "reducing the number of required restarts due to patching running code" for their updated OS. Still, if the Microsoft engineering team can replicate the speed shown in this demo on a wide scale, then Windows 8 just got a great new feature.

The Building Windows 8 blog launched in August and offers users gradual sneak peeks at the development of the OS.

Microsoft debuted Windows 8 at AllThingsD's annual conference in June 2011, and the interface appeared radically different from what Windows users are used to. What was shown off at that conference resembled the Windows Phone mobile interface much more than it did the more familiar Windows for PC. When it launches, Windows 8 will be optimized for touch-and-slide gestures on tablets and smartphones (Mac's Lion OS X, too, has been "iOS-ified," taking on several touch-and-slide capabilities familiar to iPhone users).

For now, there is no word on a release date for Windows 8, though Steve Sinofsky, President of Windows and Windows Live, told Engadget in June that they were set to release a new Windows build once every two to three years: Windows 7 was released on October 22, 2009.

ULFA Chief Paresh Baruah Reportedly Shot At, Injured By Myanmar's Army

New Delhi, Sep 10 : The commander-in-chief of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Paresh Barua, reportedly been shot at and injured by the Myanamarese Army soldiers in the jungles of northwest Myanmar.

Sources were quoted by NDTV, as saying that Baruah has survived the attack. The channel said he was with some rebels when he was detected by the Myanmarese army and fired upon.

The ULFA recently had unconditional talks with Indian Home Ministry officials in an attempt to usher peace in insurgency-hit Assam.

An ULFA delegation met Home Ministry officials and Home Minister P. Chidambaram in February and again last week.

Baruah, however, has skipped both of these meetings.

He is still at large issuing threats and carrying out attacks. He wants sovereignty as a pre-condition for talks.