Northeast Upset Over Stalled Talks With Bangladesh

By Iftikhar Gilani

New Delhi, Jul 10 : Prime minister Manmohan Singh’s failure to reciprocate Bangladesh’s “peace gestures” either by granting a concession on Teesta River water or operationalising the already signed land boundary agreement is frustrating the chief ministers of the north-eastern states.

The ministers are peeved at the UPA government’s inability and indecisiveness to table the Border Management Bill in the previous budget session of Parliament due to stiff opposition from the Trinamool and the BJP. “The delay is hampering the trans-border trade, contact and cooperation. Improvement in relations with Bangladesh is a real game-changer for the north east,” said Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma.

Government officials here admit that Hasina Wajid’s government in Dhaka has immensely contributed towards maintaining peace in the militancy-affected north-eastern states. She reversed the policy of her predecessors by ordering closure of several militancy training camps and even handed over some hardcore Assam militants to India.

Five Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram share a 2,429 mile-long border with Bangladesh.

Without naming them, chief minister Sangma told DNA, “Certain political parties were bent to ruin the prime minister’s look east vision and his carefully strategic initiative towards Dhaka.” He believes that his state, along with the entire north-east, were on the verge of making huge strides in development by the look-east policy.

The CPI (M) government in Tripura is also demanding greater economic engagement with Bangladesh. Sangma, who met prime minister Singh in Delhi recently, demanded improvement in internal waterways to Bangladesh to promote cross border investments. Further, he also asked for a transit route to Bangladesh’s Chittagong port, claiming it was the nearest port for all in the north-east.

Stressing on cooperation with the neighbouring country, the chief minister said improved relations had enabled us to move heavy machinery from Kolkata to Tripura through Bangladesh territory to set up the Palatan gas-based power plant.

Sangma is annoyed that while the BJP is making an issue of the India-Dhaka relations, it ignored its ally, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal’s, underlining his state’s expansive interests in reconciliation with Pakistan.“I am desperately waiting for the day when people of both the Punjabis would freely move across the borders without visa restrictions,” Badal had said a few months ago while inaugurating facilities at Attari-Wagah border.

How I Made It: Mohammad Ismat

By Sonali Acharjee

Mohammad Ismat


You don't need tuition. Hard work and focus is enough, says Mohammad Ismat, CBSE, 12th Board, All-India Topper, 2012.

How it all began...

I come from the Thoubal district in Manipur and am the youngest of seven children. My father, Moulana Bashirur-Rahman is a primary school teacher. During my childhood he tried very hard to provide me a good education. But his monthly income rarely exceeded more than Rs.2000. That was obviously not enough to sustain the whole family and fund my education at private schools as well.

I initially studied at a local English medium government school till class six when I switched to a Kendriya Vidhyalaya. Again in class eighth I moved to Sainik School in Imphal where I scored 94.2 per cent in my class 10th exams.

I really wanted to move to a good school after this but money was a problem. That is when the director of Zenith Academy in Imphal stepped in. He was kind enough to accept me in the school and mentor me at a minimal fee. The intellecutal exposure, constant support and good friends I found at Zenith played a huge part in my success today.

Overcome challenges
I believe nothing is impossible. It does not matter how difficult a scenario is, with faith, dedication and hard work one can overcome all odds. My life as a young student was never easy. Financial difficulties was just one problem. My village also had erratic power supply. When I was studying for my board exams there were days when we got power for only two to three hours. I was forced to studying under streetlights. Problems were aplenty but I never gave up.

What kept me going were my three sources of inspiration - Prophet Mohammed, former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Albert Einstein. Whenever I felt low, I looked to them and how they lived their lives and found encouragement.

Sharp focus
I did not take private tuition nor was my family able to afford expensive reference books. Instead I gained knowledge from library books and whatever I was taught inside the classroom. I think that, by itself, is enough for someone to do well in their exams.

I feel the real key to my sucess was my ability to concentrate. I might have studied eight hours a day during my revision but prior to that I put in only four to five hours a day of pure concentrated effort. I would shut myself away from the rest of the world and loose myself in my books. I focused hard to understand every line I was reading and. That helped me retain a lot of what I studied. Concentrated studies for minimum hours a day can reap more benefits than hours and hours of work where your mind is distracted.

Another tip I can offer students is to never remain in doubt. If you don’t understand something, always ask for clarifications instead. If you are clear with all your concepts then the last few months of revision will be easier and serve more as a kind of reinforcement. This is something I have followed throughout, even when I studied in public schools where teachers did not always like to answer questions.

Think healthy
I am an early riser and always believe in starting my day with maximum energy. I don’t think you need to be on strict diets and exercise regimes to be healthy. I have never followed any, only eaten simple meals that my mother cooked at home, yet I have enjoyed relatively good stamina.

I think my health stems from peace and purity of mind. I keep my thoughts positive and happy. Good mental health does lead to good physical health.

Enjoy Success
When I scored 99 per cent in my Class 12 exams, I happily soaked up every second of it. I think one should enjoy happiness and sucess. At the same time remain grateful to God and those who have always stood by you.

Tips for success

• Work hard: There is no easy way out. Hard work is par for the course and always pays off.

• Concentrate: A few hours of focused study can reap far more benefits than several hours of distracted work.

• Fight for your dreams: Dream big and keep long term goals.Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself of these dreams.Tell yourself that your dreams are worth fighting a few battles for.

• Be happy: Keep your mind free of negative thoughts and always try to be happy.

That Higgs Bosun 'God Particle' Explained in a Cartoon

That Higgs Bosun 'God Particle' Explained in a Cartoon

Football Will Finally Test Goal-Line Cameras

A big move in the world of soccer: The sport's governing body said today it will test two goal-line technologies at a tournament in December, reports CNN.

One system uses multiple cameras and the other relies on a microchip inside the ball. Assuming all goes well, one should be in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Helping prompt the move was a notorious blown call in the 2010 World Cup, when a shot by England's Frank Lampard crossed the line but did not get awarded.

"I have changed my attitude toward technology because of Lampard's kick in South Africa," says FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.

"That was the moment for me to say, 'You are the president of FIFA and you cannot afford that in the next World Cup something similar will happen.'"

What's more, the English Premier League is on board and plans to use one of the systems, too. (For the take of one happy and knowledgeable "football" fan, see Chris Matyszczyk's post at CNET.)

Another new rule: FIFA will allow female Muslim players to wear headscarves, notes AP.

Pranab Mukherjee 2 Set of Signature

Indian Mainstream Media News channels are not considering enough Pranab Babu's two sets of signature.

If that's Sangma's, the image would appear on TV screen day and night.

And Pranab should say he uses two set of signatures.

Simply asking, 'Can I forge my own signature?' is insufficient.

Sangma needs clarification regarding these two sets of signature.

MNF Workers Distribute Charcoal in Aizawl

Aizawl, Jul 5 : Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) youth workers on Wednesday distributed bags of charcoal in the streets of Aizawl in protest against the prolonged scarcity of cooking gas in the state.

A number of fuel-starved people received the charcoal as MNF youth workers distributed it from the Millennium Centre to the MNF party office calling the charcoal bag 'Hawla Gas' after the state chief minister Lal Thanhawla.

The Congress government could not deliver the goods including commodities most essential to the people in their daily lives," MNF sources said.

Priyanka Bawri from Meghalaya Crowned Miss Northeast

Priyanka Bawri from Meghalaya was crowned the 3rd Miss India North-East, an annual event of Zest Events, at Pragjyotsh ITA Cultural Complex, Guwahati recently, followed by Ananya Parashar and Swati Jaiswal (both from Assam) who were adjudged 1st and 2nd runners up.

21 contestant from the region participated in the three rounds. The contest was judged by actor Moloya Goswami, fashion designers Garima Saikia Garg, Anu Marbiang, Mandahun Passah and Manimala Mahanta Ahmed, International swimmer Mithoo Baruah Das and entrepreneur PK Sharma.

Mizoram Cong Regrets Punjab MLA's 'Stray Dogs' Remark

Aizawl, Jul 5 : Mizoram Pradesh Congress today expressed deep regrets over the stray-dog-for-NE India remark made by Punjab MLA Ajit Singh Mofar had made in his state assembly on June 28.

"The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee deeply regrets the honourable MLA Ajit Singh Mofar's remark that stray dogs in his state be sent to China, Nagaland or Mizoram as it amounts to insult to the people concerned and cruelty to animals," said a statement issued by MPCC media department.

"Whereas it is certain that stray dogs in Chandigarh and other Punjab towns and cities have become a public nuisance, it was unfortunate that our own Congress MLA made a comment which was insulting and derogatory to others," the statement said.

Expressing shock over such derogatory remark from a legislator elected on Indian National Congress ticket, the MPCC apologised to all Mizos whose sentiments have been hurt by the controversial remark.