Zico Lives Up To His Name

Mizoram soccer captain is the ‘toast of Indian football’

ZODIN SANGA

Mizoram football captain Zico Zoremsanga and (above) Brazilian football great Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Zico) Aizawl, Mar 13 : Naming a child after a legend is nothing new in this world of hero worship. But whether that child lives up to his/her name is a separate issue. So, when government schoolteacher F. Lalvulliana christened his firstborn Zico — after the Brazilian football star often called the White Pelé — little did he know that one day his boy would lead the state football team to win the country’s most prestigious football trophy. “I was a great fan of the Brazilian football team, Zico in particular. Even though Zico was past his prime when my first son was born, he was still my hero,” Lalvulliana, now 50, told The Telegraph today. From his small village of Khuangleng, near the India-Myanmar border, Lalvulliana watched his 23-year-old son, Zico Zoremsanga, lift the Santosh Trophy on Sunday night. Zico lived up to his name, netting a brace in the final. There was not a single television in Khuangleng when Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Zico) was part of the Brazil squad during the 1982 and 1986 Fifa World Cups. But Lalvulliana watched his favourite player on television sets at his friends’ and relatives’ houses in Aizawl. The schoolteacher always wanted his son to be a footballer but the realisation that his son finished with nine goals in the Santosh Trophy still hasn’t sunk in. “I was overjoyed to see my son’s name on all the leading national newspapers. And I was proud that some writers described him as the ‘toast of Indian football,’” Lalvulliana said. The proud father came all the way from his village, about 240km from the state capital of Aizawl, to witness the hero’s welcome accorded to his son and his teammates. Amidst the fun-filled celebrations at Assam Rifles ground here today, Zico said: “I am overjoyed that I captained a team that has scripted history. I thank God for giving me this opportunity, my coach for making me what I am and the people of Mizoram for their overwhelming support.” The skipper, whose ultimate goal is to play for a major I-League club and represent India at the international level, added, “This is not the end, I have greater heights to scale.” Zico played his first football matches at his village schoolground barefoot, like Mama (S. Malsawmtluanga), currently playing for East Bengal and Jeje Lalpekhlua, who plays for Dempo. He also had a crucial role in Mizoram’s victory in the recent T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament, a Northeast-level competition. Zico has played many inter-village matches and different age-group tournaments but the Mizoram Premier League (MPL) was his ticket to fame. He currently plays for Dinthar FC, the reigning champions of MPL. The high-profile MPL, which was introduced two years ago, is also the driving force behind Mizoram’s success in the Santosh Trophy and the T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament. “The MPL basically aims to provide a platform for talented footballers in Mizoram. Through the MPL, we have put in place a system and a roadmap to take Mizoram football forward. It has paid off,” said Lalnghinglova Hmar, secretary of the Mizoram Football Association. The MPL was introduced after artificial turf was installed at three football grounds, two in Aizawl and one at Lunglei in south Mizoram. Most of the matches during the second season of the tournament were played under floodlights. Th recent success of football in the state is also due to the Mizoram Football Association’s grassroots development programme, which has been declared by the All India Football Federation as the best in the country. “The grassroots development programme that the MFA initiated in collaboration with the AIFF follows the FIFA model. Youngsters between the ages of six and 12 are a part of this programme,” Hmar said.

Air Service Launched

Assam governor J.B. Patnaik lights the inaugural lamp at the launch of Purbayan air service, in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Guwahati, Mar 13 : City-based Purbayan Group has taken wing towards making air travel between the Brahmaputra and Barak valley convenient and cheap with the launch of a twice-daily Guwahati-Silchar flight.

“The service will bridge the gaps in regard to connectivity between the Brahmaputra and Barak valley. I would request the company to sustain the service in the long run,” Assam governor J.B. Patnaik said while inaugurating the service here today.

Purbayan will operate the 45-minute flight in two shifts from tomorrow morning.

“Passengers from Guwahati can avail of the service at 8.30am and 2.30pm while those from Silchar can fly to the city at 9.30am and 3.30pm every day. A one-way fare would be Rs 5,500,” Kaushik Biswas, the managing director of Purbayan Group, told The Telegraph.

The company has acquired a Cessna Caravan nine-seater aircraft on a year’s lease from a Delhi-based aviation company. “We will expand to other routes such as Guwahati-Tura-Shillong and Guwahati-Kohima-Shillong-Aizawl soon,” Biswas said.

The company has also introduced air ambulance services. “Our clients can avail of the services at Rs 65,000 per hour (excluding taxes). We also have joy rides and chartered flight services for tourists, corporate and entrepreneurs,” he said.

Purbayan has recruited four trained pilots.

“The aircraft is one of the safest and economical modes of air transport. Barring water, it can land on any surface,” said Capt. Kazim Razaa, one of the pilots with a four-year stint in the aviation industry.

“Air India and Jet Airways now operate services between Guwahati and Silchar. The average fare booked for flights within a week in the two airlines would range between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000,” said Bhaskar Sharma, a travel consultant.

Northeast Shuttles, a private airline, could not make much headway in the region after it ran into losses. Given the odds, how viable a service will Purbayan be? “It will be a challenge as we are starting from scratch. But we are optimistic,” Biswas said.

Myanmarese goods not Profitable Anymore for Northeast Traders

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Traders who had started going to Namphalong and Tamu markets in Myanmar after several weeks of sealing off of the international border, are not happy with the changed situation. Many of them may not be going further to bring foreign goods for sale at various towns in the north eastern States.

The traders and the community leaders at Moreh, the border town, had sealed off the international border following the grisly murder of two traders - S. Singh and D. Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai respectively - on February 11 by unknown persons. Though they were believed to have been kidnapped from Tamu town, about 30 km from the international border on Fberuary 11, their decomposed and mutilated bodies were found near a tribal village some weeks later.

When the Myanmarese Government did nothing to track down the killers, the traders and community leaders at Moreh had sealed off the international border and did not permit anyone to cross the international gate. Following a meeting among the officials of Manipur and Myanmar, the restriction was lifted from Sunday. The Indian traders had started rushing to Namphalong and Tamu to fetch foreign goods.

However, talking to The Hindu, some of the traders said that there is a changed situation and a fear psychosis among Indians who venture into Myanmar. They feel that any one of them could be murdered any time and the criminals would never be accounted for. The killers of the two Indian traders have not been arrested so far and the fear is that they will never be booked. In other words, these criminals and some potential criminals may be tempted to commit more crimes as they know that they will never be brought to justice.

The traders said that since they feel quite unsafe, many of them are thinking of not sticking out their necks. In any case, the legalised border trade had undergone a radical change. The traditional trade between the two countries was legalised after much official red tapism on May 12, 1995. The country’s exchequer had not gained much in the sense that the underworld business is still flourishing and the taxes imposed on the common items are negligible.

Much later, the Myanmarese government had constructed a shopping complex at Namphalong across the international gate. It means that the days of the business monopoly by the south Indians, collectively known at Moreh as Tamils, came to an end. In the beginning, they bought all foreign goods in bulk and sold them to the Indian traders at huge profit later. Since the Indian traders are going straight to Namphalong, these Tamils were left holding the empty sacks. Representatives of the Tamil Sangam in Moreh told The Hindu that most of the traders had left Moreh to start business elsewhere. The growing sense of insecurity among the traders who have been going inside Myanmar to fetch goods is the last nail in the coffin.

Indications are that Champhai in Mizoram is fast emerging as the alternative trade centre of the two countries. Besides, the traders also say that there are over “15 check posts” between Imphal and Moreh which has a distance of 110 km. They have to grease many palms in these check posts with the result that they do not get much profit from the sale of the foreign goods brought to Manipur and other NE States.

There are no banking and foreign exchange facilities at Moreh. As criminals of many hues rule the roost there, the traders do not feel safe to carry huge amounts of money needed for trade matters.

Cloud over Mizo opposition bid to forge common front

AIZAWL: The efforts made by all opposition parties in Mizoram to forge a common front against the ruling Congress in the coming Lok Sabha election has run into rough weather over selection of the common candidate.

Sources in Mizo National Front (MNF) told TOI that all other parties wanted a common candidate who does not belong to any political party, a prominent and untainted figure acceptable to the people, irrespective of party affiliations.

The talks among the constituent political parties of United Democratic Front (UDF) hit a deadlock after the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) representatives proposed the names of its leaders for the UDF nominee.

The names of former Lok Sabha member and ZNP chief Lalduhoma, former minister and vice-president of ZNP F Malsawma and former state election commissioner C Ropianga were reportedly proposed by the party representatives during the meetings.

Other constituent parties, however, could not accept these names resulting in the stalemate, MNF sources said.

They added that talks are on to end the deadlock.

Constituents of UDF were MNF, the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), ZNP, BJP, NCP, Hmar People's Convention (HPC), Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) and Paite Tribe Council (PTC).

Earlier, United Democratic Fron had decided that the alliance's candidate, if elected, would join the NDA in Parliament.

Mizoram Ready to Welcome Champs

ZODIN SANGA

Aizawl, Mar 12 : The football-crazy state of Mizoram, which erupted in euphoria on Sunday night when its football team clinched the coveted Santosh Trophy for the first time, is now preparing to give a rousing welcome to their heroes.

The Mizoram squad, led my manager Lalbiakzuala and coach H. Vanlalthlanga, is scheduled to arrive at Lengpui airport tomorrow, where they will be accorded a warm welcome by the Mizoram Football Association, sports department officials and fans. Later, a felicitation ceremony will be held at Assam Rifles ground here to celebrate the achievement.

“Preparations are on in full swing to accord the football champions a hero’s welcome,” secretary of the football association, Lalnghinglova Hmar, said.

The Mizoram government is yet to announce any cash rewards for the squad members but has declared Wednesday a state holiday.

Governor V. Purushothaman was the first of the state top brass to congratulate the squad. “This achievement has placed Mizoram at a very high level in the national sporting scene and has amply demonstrated the power of its youth. I am confident this will be a harbinger of many more such achievements in the future,” the governor said in a statement.

“The state has placed its trust in the youth of Mizoram and looks optimistically to the fulfilment of its Olympic Vision, 2016,” he added. The governor will also host high tea for the team on Thursday.

Sports minister Zodintluanga said, “I am extremely happy that Mizoram football has scaled such a great height. This achievement must be credited to the concerted efforts of all sports department officials, the football association and the hardworking team members,” he said.

“We had thrown a challenge to the Mizoram youths by providing world-class infrastructure. Our footballers have responded to the challenge,” Zodintluanga said.

The sports department has laid world-class artificial turf in three football grounds in Mizoram — two at Aizawl and one at Lunglei. Efforts are on to lay astroturf at some more grounds.

Dates of Mizoram Assembly session changed

Aizawl: The proposed calendar of the coming Mizoram Legislative Assembly session was on Tuesday changed by the business advisory committee (BAC) deciding that the session would be only for three days.

Sources in the Assembly Secretariat told a news agency that the session would begin on March 18 and continue till March 20 as against the earlier proposal of the session for 13 days (from March 18 to April 3).

State Governor Vakkom Purushothaman would deliver his annual gubernatorial address to the Assembly on the first day of the session and the Supplementary Demand for grants for 2013-2014 would be presented by the Finance Minister Lalsawta who would also seek a vote-on-account on the same day.

The motion of thanks on the Governor's address would be discussed on March 19 and other businesses would also be taken up.

The Supplementary Demand and the Vote-on-account would be deliberated and expected to be passed on March 20, the officials said.

Meet Silchar's first family – one that has held office since 1952

By Prasanta Mazumdar

Elections are a mere formality for the Dev family in Assam's second largest town, Silchar.

Barring five years in between, a member of the family has held an elected office — be it a municipal seat, an assembly or a Parliamentary seat — since 1952.

The family's political journey started with Satindra Mohan Dev, a freedom fighter in India's independence struggle, who later served as a minister in the state. His son, Santosh Mohan Dev, followed suit.

He contested nine Parliamentary elections, of which he won seven, for the Congress. In five of these, he represented Silchar in the Lok Sabha while in the other two, he represented Tripura, and in the process, secured a rare distinction of being elected from two states. Santosh lost on two occasions, in 1998 and in 2009.

Santosh's wife Bithika Dev too has represented Silchar in the state legislative assembly from 2006-2011. It was only between 1971 and 1975 and for one year between 1998 and 1999 that no member of the Dev family held an elected office. For the 2014 general election, the Congress is fielding Santosh's daughter Sushmita, an MLA, from the Silchar seat.

A lawyer, Sushmita is an alumnus of the Thames Valley University, London and Kings College, London University. She plunged into active politics in 2009 by successfully contesting the municipal elections and in 2011 contested in the assembly elections and became an MLA.

"We have won most often because we have worked for the people and the area," said Sushmita. "We are not tainted and my father's public touch and grassroots connection is immense."
Silchar resident Biswajit Gupta explained that the family is accessible, which adds to their winnability quotient. "They (Dev family) have often won because they are immensely popular. They can easily mingle with voters and are not snobbish."

Bikash Dutta, a voter in Silchar, however, pointed out that Santosh Mohan Dev lost the 2009 elections because of the polarisation of the Muslim votes. "The Congress always had the edge here because of the division of Hindu votes (counting Adivasis who work in tea estates). The Hindu votes have often gone to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party," said Dutta.

"But the Muslims largely voted in favour of the Congress in Silchar until the emergence of the All India United Democratic Front."
Muslims constitute 35 per cent of the voters in the Silchar constituency. In 2009, Santosh was up against AIUDF chief and perfume baron Maulana Badruddin Ajmal and the BJP's Kabindra

Purkayastha, who won by a margin of 41,470 votes. However, Dev lost out to Ajmal, who polled a little over 200,000 votes to his 197,244.
Wooing Muslims and consolidating the Hindu votes is not going to be an easy task for Sushmita, who faces a stiff challenge from AIUDF's BK Nath and Samata Party's AH Laskar, a former MLA. But she is optimistic about her prospect. "I have worked with integrity and made visible changes in my area," she said.

Changing Colours of Racism

By Vikram Kapur

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: The kind of racism that has recently been seen in Delhi is not about caste or colour. It is about looking different. Photo: K. Murali Kumar

The brutal attacks get all the headlines. But the impact of racism on ordinary lives is far more subtle and insidious

Chinky. Dhandewaali. (whore) Momo. These are the kind of slurs she hears every day in Delhi. Some days, a local goon would ask with a lascivious smile: “Rate kya hai?(What is the rate?)” When that happens, she simply looks away and hurries past. On reaching home at night, she thanks her lucky stars that she has got through another day with body and limb intact. Before going out the next morning, she mutters a prayer, apprehending what the city might have in store for her. Racial slurs, she has learnt to handle. When she first arrived there from her home in Manipur, they would reduce her to tears. But with time she has learnt to put up with them, as she has with the city’s heat and chaos. She realises that the big, bad city is capable of throwing far more than hateful words at her.

I contemplate her with a mixture of guilt and bemusement. She works as a barista in my neighbourhood Costa. Until the past month, she was like any other barista, greeting me with a ready smile the moment I walked in through the door, making cheerful small talk while taking my order, stopping by my table to ask if my coffee and pastry were fine as I was partaking of them. Since the brutal murder of Nido Tania, however, the smile looks strained and the cheerfulness has all but disappeared. Today, as the newspaper reports yet another case of a Manipuri girl being groped in Delhi, she looks pensive and withdrawn. It’s obvious that she can no longer summon even the semblance of a professional veneer to contain the churning inside.

Empathy

I want to tell her that I understand exactly how she feels. That what happened to Nido Tania brought back memories of a horrific night in Norwich in 2005 where I was beaten black and blue by racist goons. That for almost a week after that night, one side of my face was so swollen that it was practically impossible to chew. That there were times in that week where I was so scared that my face would never heal that I wished my assailants had killed me. That for months I avoided going out at night and when I did, I would freeze each time I heard someone behind me.

But I hesitate.

I have nothing to do with the racist attacks. Yet that cannot quell the embarrassment I feel because my race places me right in the middle of the racist mob. I am unsure of how anything I say might be taken. An attempt at sympathy could sound fake or trite. Condemnation may not go far enough. And who knows, if we ever had an honest conversation about race, I might end up becoming defensive about mine and make a bad situation worse. So I do nothing. When she answers ‘fine’ to my question of how she is doing, I merely smile and nod even though I know she is lying and accept my coffee and pastry with a terse ‘thank you’.

As I walk home later, it strikes me that this is exactly how my white friends would have felt in England in the days following my attack. As I would go round Norwich with a bandaged head and a bruised face, eyes would be averted. People would fall silent as I approached, like they did not know what to do with me. The exchange that ensued focussed on the inconsequential and was chock-full of the kind of silence that breaks out when people are not sure of what to do or say. And there was palpable relief all round when it was over.

Subtle discrimination

The brutal attacks get all the headlines. But the impact of racism on ordinary lives is far more subtle and insidious. Invariably, it redraws relations by placing people on the opposite sides of a divide. It instils feelings of fear and persecution among the people it targets, while creating guilt and embarrassment among many on the other side. Suddenly, the most effortless relationship becomes exhausting as a distance that is difficult to bridge opens up. There are issues that are off limits because they are too hot to touch, and the whole point of an interaction can devolve to avoiding anything unseemly. As a result, the distance between people widens. That is its inherent evil.

It is not as if we in India are new to racism. In the past, though, Indian racism was about caste and colour. Low-caste Hindus would accuse the upper castes of perpetuating a form of discrimination that amounted to racism. Then there was the gripe that dark-skinned Indians had with the nation’s fascination with light skin. The word black in most Indian languages was synonymous with ugly and it was understood that to be considered attractive you had to be fair.

Caste and colour divisions still exist in India. Just about every day an honour killing takes place, because a low-caste Hindu has dared to marry someone from an upper caste. The lust for light skin, too, is alive and well. A glance at the matrimonial pages of newspapers indicates just about every man or woman desires a light-skinned spouse. Skin-whitening creams and lotions fly off the shelves in bazaars and supermarkets, and most Bollywood movies feature actors light-skinned enough for India to resemble a South European country.

However, the kind of racism that has recently been seen in Delhi with Northeasterners or, for that matter, Africans, is of the kind that was formerly associated with the West. Caste and colour have nothing to do with it. Africans and the bulk of the Northeasterners are not Hindus. Furthermore, in terms of skin colour, most Northeasterners tend to be fairer than the average Indian. The fact that they are being targeted, along with the Africans, is for one reason only. They look different. It is no accident that if you see an Indian woman with an African man in Delhi, more often than not, she is a Northeasterner, the kind of Indian made to feel foreign in her own country.

In the past, India was always at the forefront of the battle against racism. Both Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela took inspiration from India and Mahatma Gandhi. In the United Nations and other world forums, India spoke for suppressed people wherever they were in the world. As one of the first non-white nations to throw off the yoke of European colonialism, India was a beacon of hope for freedom fighters everywhere. Yet when it comes to accepting people from other races in our own society, we are showing that we are light years away from practising what we have preached.

Racism has been the scourge of the Western world for generations. It is sad to see it spreading its tentacles in India.

(Vikram Kapur is a writer and an associate professor at Shiv Nadar University.)