I woke up to the sound of my SMS tone one fine afternoon. With eyes still shut, I groped for my cell phone that was lying next to my pillow. I rubbed my eyes and squinted down at the screen. It was from ICICI Bank. Yet another offer, I grumbled. Then I slowly read the message.
You have made a Debit Card purchase of INR 3,990.00 on 18 Feb. Info: IPS*DAKSH SOLUT. Your Avbl. Bal is INR ______.00.
It was Sunday, February 18, 2007, and the time was exactly 1:48 pm.
A debit card purchase of Rs. 3,990.00 at Daksh Solution? For a brief moment, I felt as if I were wandering in a dream. Soon, I began to realize that this was real.
What the hell’s going on? I was sleeping the whole morning. How could I possibly go out and make a purchase? Did they send a wrong message to a wrong number? My debit card was in my wallet, safe and sound. But hey, where's my wallet? I suddenly sprung up from my bed and reached for the place where I always keep my wallet. Empty. I shook my head in disbelief. Again it was empty.
I was caught in a whirlwind of confusion.
I searched all the possible places where I might have left the wallet. The movement was hasty and rough. Rummaging, turning things over, pushing things aside, emptying contents. I had literally checked every possible place. Still no sign of it. I even called a friend who I went over to his place the previous night in hopes that I had dropped it somewhere around his room. Negative. It could have been that it slipped off on my way back home, though that still didn't seem likely to me since my wallet was securely tucked away in my back pocket, and I knew for sure it was still there when I reached my room. Yes sir, it was there last night – for I took out the key from my wallet to unlock my door. I was starting to believe it was stolen rather than me simply leaving it somewhere. I finally gave up the search.
My wallet's gone. And my world swirled into darkness.
I fell down upon my bed in bewilderment. I just laid there for what seemed like hours. I felt so dumb. I blamed myself for being so careless. This was the second time my wallet got stolen. I was pick-pocketed for the first time in the fall of 2004 at the infamous busy Sunday Market near Lal Qila, Delhi. They were professionals. I couldn't have really taken care of myself better. But now this happened right inside my room. My goddamn room. And all the while I was sleeping like dead.
Weekends are my off days. My roommate went out around 10:30 am that particular day, and I didn’t lock the door from inside. Hence, the raid must have taken place sometime between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. If someone had indeed entered our room during that time, why would he choose to take 'only' the wallet? Most importantly, how did he manage to pick it up from a place so secure and safe? He came in quietly, took the wallet from its hiding place, and left. There was around Rs. 1000 in it, an ICICI debit card, a driving license registered in Manipur which my parents sent to me only a couple of weeks ago, visiting cards, passports, some pictures, and all. My cell phone and other valuables were left untouched.
I immediately called ICICI customer care, got my card blocked and requested for a new one.
It dawned upon my mind that the whole operation must have been planned far in advance. He must be someone who is well aware of our schedule – who knows the time when my roommate would be away, and when I would still be buried in deep sleep all alone with an unlocked door. He must be someone who 'knows' the patterns of our room, where we keep things and where I would always leave my wallet and all. Indeed, he must be a really clever punk.
I was seething with anger thinking about the way this guy slipped into my room, stole my wallet, swiped the hell out of my card, and enjoying my money like a big fat slug.
At this point, I honestly had no clue who the culprit was and was still quite shocked by the whole thing. I had to flip back and catch up on clues. Any clues. It was broad daylight, there was no damage, and so the possibility of the involvement of a local goon was ruled out. Must be one of us. He used my debit card to make a purchase at Daksh Solution. He didn't have to know the PIN. Just my name. Smart kid. And where the hell is that Daksh Solution? What does it sell? I was becoming more and more dazed as I struggled to find further clues and piece them together. But all these led me to nowhere.
I literally gave up the hope of getting back my money. Adiós, oh precious wallet of mine. May God bless whoever keeps it.
Two days passed. On Wednesday, February 21, Robert, a friend, came to me and said, "My sisters have just told me that this guy down the road was selling them a newly bought Motorola phone the past Sunday. I think the cost of that phone is Rs. 4,000. Isn’t that the amount swiped out of your card?"
“Yeah. Who is this guy?”
“That I won’t tell yet. We’ll meet him first.”
“And do what?”
“I don’t know. It’s highly likely that he’s the one who took your ATM card. We will investigate.”
“But, we didn’t see him take the wallet. We have no evidence.”
At first I was hesitant but Robert was quite insistent. And so we decided to go to ‘their’ place after dinner.
The room that Robert led us in to turned out to be that of my friend, Biak (name changed). I protested to Robert.
“How could he? I can’t think he would be the one,” I mumbled as Robert knocked the door. It was difficult to imagine that he, of all people, would want to steal anything from me.
When we entered, Biak was ‘unusually’ anxious and nervous. He was different tonight. He was no longer the Biak I knew. He stammered as he said, “I wasn’t expecting you. What brought you guys here?” He asked, again and again, why we were there. He was restless and kept flipping a Motorola cell phone open and close. He dared not look at me in the eye.
“You’ve got yourself a new phone, huh?” said I.
“It’s for my brother.”
Robert joined in, “How much do you pay for it?”
“Four thousand.”
“Wow! This is cool, man! Let me have a look,” said I.
The first thing I do when Biak gave me the phone was giving a missed call to my number. I saved it (it was a Hutch number). He then went to the loo. On the pretext that Robert wanted to buy the same phone, we asked his roommate when and where did he buy it. He said it was Sunday and told us the location of the shop.
After we left their place, I said to Robert, “He’s my friend. Goddamnit.”
“Yes, he WAS your friend.””
It was getting late and all the shops were already closed. We were walking along the clogged lanes of Munirka when the Sherlock Holmes in me suddenly woke up. I began to see the possibilities of Biak being the one increasing more and more. And as I started to piece the baffling puzzle together, all roads seemed to lead to Biak. First, I have to make sure that my identity is not misused. I made a call to Hutch customer care and explained the situation to the executive. I gave the exec the number from Biak’s phone. Luckily, the number was not registered under my name.
As we reached the shop where Biak seemed to have bought the phone, I looked up at the board above the door. There, printed in bold, were the words, “Daksh Solution.”
And that was the beginning of the end of our friendship.
* * *
I wrote the above piece two years ago. After all this time some nagging questions still haunt me. Whose fault was this? Was he desperately in need of money and I failed to acknowledge that as a friend which led him to the point where he would steal? Wasn’t I there for him when he needed most? I am sorry for whatever happened between us. I have forgiven my friend and want us to start over again. In fact, he’s the most caring friend that I ever have.
September 09, 2009
August 26, 2009
Interview | Zogam mial ah khua vak puak: Siamkhankhual Dousel
Geenthoh leh lungsim a awlmoh chiatchiat, sepsuahna a hongtel chiang in a taksuak diak. Siamkhankhual Dousel (“Sir Khual”) in tukum Sinzawl Convention High School a pawl X sinlai naupang kua (9), a tenna inn Zoar Veng, Bungmual ah samsuk a, zintun top a, kha khat sung di veel athawn in lai hilh hi. Hiai numei li leh pasal nga te, Thanlon apan mi khat chihlouh Sinzawl mi ngen ahi uh. Sir Khual in amau te June 22 apan niteng in dakkal 2 maths leh science hilh hi.
Sir Khual in mi a deihsak dan, a naupang lui te’n geen mangmoh uhi. “Sir Khual in student te akua-akua hitaleh a awlmoh a, kitheihsiam tuahna abawl. A mi panpih utna, ginomna leh chihtakna te thupi ka sa,” chiin Marilyn, Class of 2001, LFS in geen hi. “Sir Khual a ngaihsan huaina mahmah khat chu aman teaching kha a naa ahihziak a seem mai ahikei a, teaching a uut taktak ziak a seem ahihna thupi kasa.”
Directorate of Education, Manipur website dungzui in i district ah solkal junior school 45 leh high school 27 om, chih ahi. Baan ah, Zodawn lam ah EBCC leh PCI(R) in school bangzah hiam a nei bok. Himahleh, kumteng a pawl X board result suak i etchiang in Zodawn lam te’ min a kilang kha ngeikei.
Bangziak ahi dia?
Phamta Pu T Thangthuam in hiai dotna hichiin ana dawng ngeita: “Singtang lam, i bial lam uh, Guite kual a high school te ka et chiang in kahkhiat huphup mai ka ut sek.”
Nikum in Siamsinpawlpi GHQ in Teach Zoudawn nuai ah “Integrated Residential Bridge Course Coaching Camp” Sinzawl leh Lungthul ah ana saita. Delhi Baptist Youth Fellowship (EBCC) in leng Zodawn siamsinna tundingna di’n May, 2009 in Project Nehemia tungtawn in nnasep ana panta.
Hiai toh kizui in, August 4, 2009 a phualpi’n Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008 a namkip; leh HRD minister Kapil Sibal in August 24 ni a gamsung a school board te a mathematics and science a di “core curriculum” kibang bawlkhiat a lunggulh thu a geen na liimnuai ah, “Sir Khual” in Zogam miallak khuavaak a puak kipahpihna in ZogamThuthang in amah houlimpihna, Munirka, Delhi ah August 24, 2009 in va nei hi. Delhi hong zinzual ahi. Amah thuzaak ut,a nnasep kipahpih leh kithuahpih ut bang i om zenzen leh 9856730781 ah hihtheih gige diing.
H O U L I M N A
ZogamThuthang: Athawn liauliau a Sinzawl naupang lai nana hilh a, kipahpih lua a houlim dia hongkuan ka hi uh. Bang in hiaibang a nnahoih seem dia honpi ahi deh aw.
Sir Khual: Eh, ana theikha uh maw?
Theikha e. Gamchih, chi zezen le, deengsuak neivoi.
Aw. Zodawn lam te ka awlmoh luatziak ahi. Khosakna lam ah neektawm zong, loubawl a neekzong ahitangpi ua, tulai bang a kialdiak laitak uh hi inchin. Pawl X tan beek a khua uah honzou thei le uh ka chi mahmah. Cl VII, VIII khawng zou a, Lamka hondelh chiang ua, amau lah naupang lai, siatna lah saang ahihchiah huaite a hong kibual baih uh eichu. Zodawn khote apan pawl 10 rizal chiang bang hong kilang ban leh chih huai lotel.
Thupi lotel! Hiai eive maw Zogam iitna diktak! Ahihleh, bangchi dan a amau te va theikhia e?
Sinzawl ah ka nuneu’ nau, Paukhanlun in sem inchin. Aman kha awl moh mahmah. Huailam a hilhdia honzawn ua, hilele ken Lamka a mi hilh nei ka hihchiang a, va kuantou theilou. Huchia, Paukhanlun tungtawn a ka hon theihkhiat ahi.
Amau te bangchidan in na hilh a leh?
Tutung chu a etkhiat photna dia ka sapsuk ahi. Bangtan a thei ua, bang dinmun a ding ahi ua, chih khawng theihna di leh board question paizia a hon matchiang na di ua hilh phot ka hi.
Hilhtouh nawn lai sawm maw?
January-February khawng in hilhnawn ka sawm.
Bangchi na sa? Lamka naupang te toh teh in bang a chi ua?
Ka gintak sang in a theizaw uh. Lamka a kai tampi khupzou di eive ua. A text bu khah hahsim zoulou deuh eidi ua aw, ka chi . A text bu mahmah ana simtan di'n ka geen a. Amau lak ah le a theibaih pawl, leh a theithei lou pawl a om thou ua. Huaichiah, a genhak kei ua, thu a mang thei mahmah ve ua. Lamka a skul khenkhat te sang bang a chu siamzaw tham uh himai. Maths ahihleh a dan om, science a chau ua. Amau own word a neuchik description piak haksa a sa uh. Hiai lampang ah chu Lamka a te a phakei uh, chih hi’nteh.
Alak uah a siamthei mahmah khat om inchin, huaipen bang hoihtak a a hon simtouh di deihsak huai mahmah.
Nang amau te athawn a theihna na guan ban a, neek di leh giahna bang ana pia chin a.
Hi, huai di mah a ka sapsuk ahi. Hilele, amau bang ki a kisuanglah zomah uh. Hiai kha kisuanlahna chi hihetlou hiveh aw. Kial mahmah ahih utoh, nek di leh tunna di tengteng ke’n ka sikvek di mah h’inchin. A hong omsung ua, a sung te un gotuai, malta, samphok leh meh di nengneng hon khaak lemlum ua, anntang bang le amau kham di khop, tam loulou hon kipuak unchin. Ka zohni ua a nu-le-pa te uh thuhilhna bang a naupang te'n ann hon neekpih uh. Huai lampang hon ngaihtuah kei le ule khawk hetlou hi a.
Hiai na thilhih, na sungkuan te’n a hon kithuahpih uhia?
Kithuahpih lotel. Ka pa bang in a hon lungluut pih mahmah a. Zin bang le ka paneu Biakmuan te toh ka kihawm uh ahi. Nidang pek apan ka pa’n, zindou chih khawng vualzawlna a a ngaih gige ahi.
Ahihleh, hiai pen kumteng a sutzop touh zel sawm maw?
Phakchiam khat nei ing a, huai ka phaakma sutzop touh zel ka sawm. Kum nih, kum thum tan bang, a kizom in result hoih taktak hon pokhe thei uhenla, first division bang, huaikhit chiah amau leh amau a khe un hong kiding khe thei le uh.
Nang kha Guite Kual apan a pawl X first division a zoukhe masa pen hi di neive maw. Bangchik kum, koi apan a le?
1992 a Hill Model High School, Singngat apan ana zou. Kei nung a 1995 a Douthanlun in Manipur pumpi a 5th position bang a hongpang inchin, huchia kha a trend khat hongpai tou om hiveh aw. Tua le, Zodawn lam te'n first division a zou zoulou di chihna thu om hetlou. Board exam avek un hong lohching uhenla, a school min un first division bang ah hong om le uh, huai in anuai ua te tha hon pe dia, huchia hong hoih toutou di ahi.
Ahihleh, Lamka zaang a nna nana sepkhaak dan hon gen sin dih le.
1999 a Foundation School, Bungmual ah sem pan ing a, extra class toh hihpih heehuu mai. Huaikum a avek ua hong lohching unchin, first division ah mi 8 bang om uh. Huainung tuni tan a hoihtak a paitou charchar uh, chih di ahi.
2000 a kei rehab ah omsuk ngal chi aw. Kumtawp lam a rehab ah naupang te, a uniform uh toh hongkuan uh. Ke'n le chain bulh kawm a ana hilh sukmai. Huai batch te tu in a career uah lohching pipi hita uh ahi. Khat bang in IIT apan zoukhia a.
Rehab ah le ana kihilh neive uai maw. Thupi mahmah e! Hiaithu gelhkhe le a poidiam?
Poilou e, ahi mah ahichia. Rehab ah kum sagih phial om ing a, kumteng naupang te a hongkuan gige uh.
Tulai in bangchi dan in tuition na hilh a?
Inn ah ziingkal 4.50am - 8.00am sung batch tuamtuam in class IX, X leh XI te ka hilh a, nitaklam chiah X toh XII te ka hilhzel.
Foundation School apat result hoihpi na hon piangkhe sak a, huainung na om nana ah naupang te’n a hon delhzui mai ua. Naupang leh nu-le-pa tamtak in na siamna a gengen mai ua.
A credit kha kei a di hilou, naupang te’ heutu, kumtawm a amau ana hilhte’ a di ahi zaw. Kei ziak hi zenzen lou. Khenkhat in, kei kei min khawng honlou om unchin, hilele, hiai kha team work ahi. Kei kia’ hih hilou.
Zodawn hi’n Lamka hitaleh, sinlai naupang hi in, midang hitaleh, khamtheih hih a kithang mahmah nguut a, aziak di hon zonkhiat sawm dih le. Hiai tungtang na muhdan himhim hon gen kawm lechin maw.
Singtang apat Lamka a skul hongkai, lawm hon nei uh chi aw. Hiai a lawmpolh te tungtawn ua khamtheih a piiluut a om tangpi ahi uh. Kou hunlai, OMPAPA haatlai hiven, kisual kithang petmah. Hon panpih di lawm i neih ngai. Huai i lawmte toh i kipolh chia a hih-hih uh hih ngai. Va hihkhaak louh theihlouh khat a om ahi. A hih leh a hih i hong kipawl tuah chiang a, kihih-hih kha. Tuchiang in ahihleh nidang dan in huchidan muhdi a om vak nawnkei a, hilele, khamtheih hih naupang pungtoutou zellai hi'n muhtheih a, poi lotel. Nopbawlna leh Christmas hongtung lelah, mi bangzah in khamtheih hon hihthak dia, chih a om.
Khamtheih zaw... A hihkhinsa te’ haksatna leh sihdan khawng muhnung a le tamtak in tawpsawm tuanlou. A hih pung toutou zel.
Amak a mak eichu, khamtheih in a hon thunun dan. Muhtheihlouh thil khat om eichu. Khamtheih in i ngaihtuahna avek a thunun himai. Daal zoh vual hilou ahi. Huaiziak a, a hihnai lou, leh a hong kipan thak sinlai te bang, chiam hetlou di leh hih hetlou di'n ka ngen ut.
Ahih nai hetlou te’n a hon hihlouhna di un bangchia panlaak hoih na sa?
Study hoihtak a bawl di. Student hong kipan thak te, dendrite, RP a hong kipan tangpi uh ahi. Hiai zuaktu te tung ah penalty khauhtak mai bawl di. Tulai in, Lamka ah NGO tuamtuam in khamtheih doudalna din (ana hihsa te panpihna din) pan a la ua, hoihlua. A hih nailou leh hihdia kisa panpan te, hihlou dia hilh/kawkmuh i mohpuak chiat ahi.
Sau i pialkhe man sim ua. Ahihleh, i gam khankhiatna di’n siamsinna mah poimoh hin na thei hia?
Hi lotel. Hoihtak a anuai apat pattouh di chu ahi. Hilele, ken ka awlmoh khat chu, Lamka a pawl XI sinna mun te mahmah ahi. Hiaithu tuma in article khat ka na gelh ta a.
Hon genchiang sin ve.
Lamka a higher secondary college te'n pawl XI sinlai te houbawl sim uh bang ka sa. Adiak a, maths kha hoih hilhlou ua thei ka hi. Tehkhinna dia, "trigonometry" bang poimoh lotel inchin, bulsuut pih di ahi. A zatna tam inchin. Tua, naupang te, a value khawng petop hang a, bangchi dan a huai value hongpiang khia ahia, chih khawng theihsiam sak ngai maw.
Eimah ve. Eimi te, maths kha kichau thei mahmah. Huaichiah, pawl XII tan a maths leh science la te bang, a tamzaw graduation ah arts lam a kiheiphei duamduam hang a. Kilunglut lou hia, kisiam theilou himhim, ahihke'h ahi di dantak a hilhkhaak ki a omlou, chihbang ngaihtuah theih dekdek a om.
Huai hi'nchin, Lamka a college te'n pawl XI, XII naupang te, hiaisang in a mathematics leh science uh hon awlmoh pih zawlai le uh chihhuai. A fee lah saang tham thou, deihbang a ginalou. Enve, gamdang a XI-XII zilman tamlua, eigam ah hoihtak a i puahhoih di uh hilou maw? Huai hileh, eite mah in kihamphat pih dia, polam mi te bang in le hon boh di ua, Lamka khopi "Zogam khopi" diktak hongsuak di ahi.
Kumteng a pawl XII science result suak i etchiang in, tamtak in lohchinna i ngah gige a, hilele, engineering leh medical entrance exam tuamtuam khawng a luttou zou di kivaang thei mahmah maw.
Hiai entrance exam na dia, pawl XI leh XII, adiak a XI sinlai te poimoh lotel inchin, college te'n nasatak a pan a laak uh ngai ka sa. Na chihbang ua, pawl XII khitchiang a entrance exam tam a tam, hilele huaite vaan a gah mah bang. Huaichiah, pawl XII khawng hih heehuu hang a, MIL leh subject dang, leh plus-minus tungtawn a pass khia, a thawm chu ngaih a ngaih. Hilele, i lohchinna te uh polaang lotel. Giklou. Tui pailou thei lua.
Ahihleh, atawpna di’n, tua Sinzawl naupang te lai na hilhna apan na muhkhiat bang ahi di?
Ka muhkhiat chu a heutute uh hahpan naa uh ahi, chih a naupang te apan a kithei. Ahitak in, hilhtu heutu te' hahpan leh panlouh a skul naupang te ah kithei mai ahi. A skul chairman pa bang in a hongveh kha a, naupang te' nu-le-pa te'n leng a tate uh laisiam di a deihsak mahmah uh. Ka gentaksa bang in, a hilh a nuam ua, a thei baih mahmah uh. Amau te ka hilhkhaak in kei ah lungkimna liantak a hon tun.
Zogam mial ah khua vak puak diing in, hong ging hi sapna aw tuni in, kua hiam kuan diing khuavaak puak diing Zogam ah, singdang omlou siamsin te loungal
~Rev Lian C Tawmbing
Sir Khual in mi a deihsak dan, a naupang lui te’n geen mangmoh uhi. “Sir Khual in student te akua-akua hitaleh a awlmoh a, kitheihsiam tuahna abawl. A mi panpih utna, ginomna leh chihtakna te thupi ka sa,” chiin Marilyn, Class of 2001, LFS in geen hi. “Sir Khual a ngaihsan huaina mahmah khat chu aman teaching kha a naa ahihziak a seem mai ahikei a, teaching a uut taktak ziak a seem ahihna thupi kasa.”
Directorate of Education, Manipur website dungzui in i district ah solkal junior school 45 leh high school 27 om, chih ahi. Baan ah, Zodawn lam ah EBCC leh PCI(R) in school bangzah hiam a nei bok. Himahleh, kumteng a pawl X board result suak i etchiang in Zodawn lam te’ min a kilang kha ngeikei.
Bangziak ahi dia?
Phamta Pu T Thangthuam in hiai dotna hichiin ana dawng ngeita: “Singtang lam, i bial lam uh, Guite kual a high school te ka et chiang in kahkhiat huphup mai ka ut sek.”
Nikum in Siamsinpawlpi GHQ in Teach Zoudawn nuai ah “Integrated Residential Bridge Course Coaching Camp” Sinzawl leh Lungthul ah ana saita. Delhi Baptist Youth Fellowship (EBCC) in leng Zodawn siamsinna tundingna di’n May, 2009 in Project Nehemia tungtawn in nnasep ana panta.
Hiai toh kizui in, August 4, 2009 a phualpi’n Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008 a namkip; leh HRD minister Kapil Sibal in August 24 ni a gamsung a school board te a mathematics and science a di “core curriculum” kibang bawlkhiat a lunggulh thu a geen na liimnuai ah, “Sir Khual” in Zogam miallak khuavaak a puak kipahpihna in ZogamThuthang in amah houlimpihna, Munirka, Delhi ah August 24, 2009 in va nei hi. Delhi hong zinzual ahi. Amah thuzaak ut,a nnasep kipahpih leh kithuahpih ut bang i om zenzen leh 9856730781 ah hihtheih gige diing.
H O U L I M N A
ZogamThuthang: Athawn liauliau a Sinzawl naupang lai nana hilh a, kipahpih lua a houlim dia hongkuan ka hi uh. Bang in hiaibang a nnahoih seem dia honpi ahi deh aw.
Sir Khual: Eh, ana theikha uh maw?
Theikha e. Gamchih, chi zezen le, deengsuak neivoi.
Aw. Zodawn lam te ka awlmoh luatziak ahi. Khosakna lam ah neektawm zong, loubawl a neekzong ahitangpi ua, tulai bang a kialdiak laitak uh hi inchin. Pawl X tan beek a khua uah honzou thei le uh ka chi mahmah. Cl VII, VIII khawng zou a, Lamka hondelh chiang ua, amau lah naupang lai, siatna lah saang ahihchiah huaite a hong kibual baih uh eichu. Zodawn khote apan pawl 10 rizal chiang bang hong kilang ban leh chih huai lotel.
Thupi lotel! Hiai eive maw Zogam iitna diktak! Ahihleh, bangchi dan a amau te va theikhia e?
Sinzawl ah ka nuneu’ nau, Paukhanlun in sem inchin. Aman kha awl moh mahmah. Huailam a hilhdia honzawn ua, hilele ken Lamka a mi hilh nei ka hihchiang a, va kuantou theilou. Huchia, Paukhanlun tungtawn a ka hon theihkhiat ahi.
Amau te bangchidan in na hilh a leh?
Tutung chu a etkhiat photna dia ka sapsuk ahi. Bangtan a thei ua, bang dinmun a ding ahi ua, chih khawng theihna di leh board question paizia a hon matchiang na di ua hilh phot ka hi.
Hilhtouh nawn lai sawm maw?
January-February khawng in hilhnawn ka sawm.
Bangchi na sa? Lamka naupang te toh teh in bang a chi ua?
Ka gintak sang in a theizaw uh. Lamka a kai tampi khupzou di eive ua. A text bu khah hahsim zoulou deuh eidi ua aw, ka chi . A text bu mahmah ana simtan di'n ka geen a. Amau lak ah le a theibaih pawl, leh a theithei lou pawl a om thou ua. Huaichiah, a genhak kei ua, thu a mang thei mahmah ve ua. Lamka a skul khenkhat te sang bang a chu siamzaw tham uh himai. Maths ahihleh a dan om, science a chau ua. Amau own word a neuchik description piak haksa a sa uh. Hiai lampang ah chu Lamka a te a phakei uh, chih hi’nteh.
Alak uah a siamthei mahmah khat om inchin, huaipen bang hoihtak a a hon simtouh di deihsak huai mahmah.
Nang amau te athawn a theihna na guan ban a, neek di leh giahna bang ana pia chin a.
Hi, huai di mah a ka sapsuk ahi. Hilele, amau bang ki a kisuanglah zomah uh. Hiai kha kisuanlahna chi hihetlou hiveh aw. Kial mahmah ahih utoh, nek di leh tunna di tengteng ke’n ka sikvek di mah h’inchin. A hong omsung ua, a sung te un gotuai, malta, samphok leh meh di nengneng hon khaak lemlum ua, anntang bang le amau kham di khop, tam loulou hon kipuak unchin. Ka zohni ua a nu-le-pa te uh thuhilhna bang a naupang te'n ann hon neekpih uh. Huai lampang hon ngaihtuah kei le ule khawk hetlou hi a.
Hiai na thilhih, na sungkuan te’n a hon kithuahpih uhia?
Kithuahpih lotel. Ka pa bang in a hon lungluut pih mahmah a. Zin bang le ka paneu Biakmuan te toh ka kihawm uh ahi. Nidang pek apan ka pa’n, zindou chih khawng vualzawlna a a ngaih gige ahi.
Ahihleh, hiai pen kumteng a sutzop touh zel sawm maw?
Phakchiam khat nei ing a, huai ka phaakma sutzop touh zel ka sawm. Kum nih, kum thum tan bang, a kizom in result hoih taktak hon pokhe thei uhenla, first division bang, huaikhit chiah amau leh amau a khe un hong kiding khe thei le uh.
Nang kha Guite Kual apan a pawl X first division a zoukhe masa pen hi di neive maw. Bangchik kum, koi apan a le?
1992 a Hill Model High School, Singngat apan ana zou. Kei nung a 1995 a Douthanlun in Manipur pumpi a 5th position bang a hongpang inchin, huchia kha a trend khat hongpai tou om hiveh aw. Tua le, Zodawn lam te'n first division a zou zoulou di chihna thu om hetlou. Board exam avek un hong lohching uhenla, a school min un first division bang ah hong om le uh, huai in anuai ua te tha hon pe dia, huchia hong hoih toutou di ahi.
Ahihleh, Lamka zaang a nna nana sepkhaak dan hon gen sin dih le.
1999 a Foundation School, Bungmual ah sem pan ing a, extra class toh hihpih heehuu mai. Huaikum a avek ua hong lohching unchin, first division ah mi 8 bang om uh. Huainung tuni tan a hoihtak a paitou charchar uh, chih di ahi.
2000 a kei rehab ah omsuk ngal chi aw. Kumtawp lam a rehab ah naupang te, a uniform uh toh hongkuan uh. Ke'n le chain bulh kawm a ana hilh sukmai. Huai batch te tu in a career uah lohching pipi hita uh ahi. Khat bang in IIT apan zoukhia a.
Rehab ah le ana kihilh neive uai maw. Thupi mahmah e! Hiaithu gelhkhe le a poidiam?
Poilou e, ahi mah ahichia. Rehab ah kum sagih phial om ing a, kumteng naupang te a hongkuan gige uh.
Tulai in bangchi dan in tuition na hilh a?
Inn ah ziingkal 4.50am - 8.00am sung batch tuamtuam in class IX, X leh XI te ka hilh a, nitaklam chiah X toh XII te ka hilhzel.
Foundation School apat result hoihpi na hon piangkhe sak a, huainung na om nana ah naupang te’n a hon delhzui mai ua. Naupang leh nu-le-pa tamtak in na siamna a gengen mai ua.
A credit kha kei a di hilou, naupang te’ heutu, kumtawm a amau ana hilhte’ a di ahi zaw. Kei ziak hi zenzen lou. Khenkhat in, kei kei min khawng honlou om unchin, hilele, hiai kha team work ahi. Kei kia’ hih hilou.
Zodawn hi’n Lamka hitaleh, sinlai naupang hi in, midang hitaleh, khamtheih hih a kithang mahmah nguut a, aziak di hon zonkhiat sawm dih le. Hiai tungtang na muhdan himhim hon gen kawm lechin maw.
Singtang apat Lamka a skul hongkai, lawm hon nei uh chi aw. Hiai a lawmpolh te tungtawn ua khamtheih a piiluut a om tangpi ahi uh. Kou hunlai, OMPAPA haatlai hiven, kisual kithang petmah. Hon panpih di lawm i neih ngai. Huai i lawmte toh i kipolh chia a hih-hih uh hih ngai. Va hihkhaak louh theihlouh khat a om ahi. A hih leh a hih i hong kipawl tuah chiang a, kihih-hih kha. Tuchiang in ahihleh nidang dan in huchidan muhdi a om vak nawnkei a, hilele, khamtheih hih naupang pungtoutou zellai hi'n muhtheih a, poi lotel. Nopbawlna leh Christmas hongtung lelah, mi bangzah in khamtheih hon hihthak dia, chih a om.
Khamtheih zaw... A hihkhinsa te’ haksatna leh sihdan khawng muhnung a le tamtak in tawpsawm tuanlou. A hih pung toutou zel.
Amak a mak eichu, khamtheih in a hon thunun dan. Muhtheihlouh thil khat om eichu. Khamtheih in i ngaihtuahna avek a thunun himai. Daal zoh vual hilou ahi. Huaiziak a, a hihnai lou, leh a hong kipan thak sinlai te bang, chiam hetlou di leh hih hetlou di'n ka ngen ut.
Ahih nai hetlou te’n a hon hihlouhna di un bangchia panlaak hoih na sa?
Study hoihtak a bawl di. Student hong kipan thak te, dendrite, RP a hong kipan tangpi uh ahi. Hiai zuaktu te tung ah penalty khauhtak mai bawl di. Tulai in, Lamka ah NGO tuamtuam in khamtheih doudalna din (ana hihsa te panpihna din) pan a la ua, hoihlua. A hih nailou leh hihdia kisa panpan te, hihlou dia hilh/kawkmuh i mohpuak chiat ahi.
Sau i pialkhe man sim ua. Ahihleh, i gam khankhiatna di’n siamsinna mah poimoh hin na thei hia?
Hi lotel. Hoihtak a anuai apat pattouh di chu ahi. Hilele, ken ka awlmoh khat chu, Lamka a pawl XI sinna mun te mahmah ahi. Hiaithu tuma in article khat ka na gelh ta a.
Hon genchiang sin ve.
Lamka a higher secondary college te'n pawl XI sinlai te houbawl sim uh bang ka sa. Adiak a, maths kha hoih hilhlou ua thei ka hi. Tehkhinna dia, "trigonometry" bang poimoh lotel inchin, bulsuut pih di ahi. A zatna tam inchin. Tua, naupang te, a value khawng petop hang a, bangchi dan a huai value hongpiang khia ahia, chih khawng theihsiam sak ngai maw.
Eimah ve. Eimi te, maths kha kichau thei mahmah. Huaichiah, pawl XII tan a maths leh science la te bang, a tamzaw graduation ah arts lam a kiheiphei duamduam hang a. Kilunglut lou hia, kisiam theilou himhim, ahihke'h ahi di dantak a hilhkhaak ki a omlou, chihbang ngaihtuah theih dekdek a om.
Huai hi'nchin, Lamka a college te'n pawl XI, XII naupang te, hiaisang in a mathematics leh science uh hon awlmoh pih zawlai le uh chihhuai. A fee lah saang tham thou, deihbang a ginalou. Enve, gamdang a XI-XII zilman tamlua, eigam ah hoihtak a i puahhoih di uh hilou maw? Huai hileh, eite mah in kihamphat pih dia, polam mi te bang in le hon boh di ua, Lamka khopi "Zogam khopi" diktak hongsuak di ahi.
Kumteng a pawl XII science result suak i etchiang in, tamtak in lohchinna i ngah gige a, hilele, engineering leh medical entrance exam tuamtuam khawng a luttou zou di kivaang thei mahmah maw.
Hiai entrance exam na dia, pawl XI leh XII, adiak a XI sinlai te poimoh lotel inchin, college te'n nasatak a pan a laak uh ngai ka sa. Na chihbang ua, pawl XII khitchiang a entrance exam tam a tam, hilele huaite vaan a gah mah bang. Huaichiah, pawl XII khawng hih heehuu hang a, MIL leh subject dang, leh plus-minus tungtawn a pass khia, a thawm chu ngaih a ngaih. Hilele, i lohchinna te uh polaang lotel. Giklou. Tui pailou thei lua.
Ahihleh, atawpna di’n, tua Sinzawl naupang te lai na hilhna apan na muhkhiat bang ahi di?
Ka muhkhiat chu a heutute uh hahpan naa uh ahi, chih a naupang te apan a kithei. Ahitak in, hilhtu heutu te' hahpan leh panlouh a skul naupang te ah kithei mai ahi. A skul chairman pa bang in a hongveh kha a, naupang te' nu-le-pa te'n leng a tate uh laisiam di a deihsak mahmah uh. Ka gentaksa bang in, a hilh a nuam ua, a thei baih mahmah uh. Amau te ka hilhkhaak in kei ah lungkimna liantak a hon tun.
Zogam mial ah khua vak puak diing in, hong ging hi sapna aw tuni in, kua hiam kuan diing khuavaak puak diing Zogam ah, singdang omlou siamsin te loungal
~Rev Lian C Tawmbing
July 07, 2009
Remembering July 7, 1997
“Mommy, why do they shoot us? Why do they burn our house?” She was intently looking up at her mother, her moist eyes sparkling. This 6-year-old girl was too young to understand the situation. Her mother simply said, “They were bad guys, dear.” As a shower of bullets flew above, she buried her head in her mother’s arms and warm tears from her mother’s eyes fell upon her face.
It was July 7, 1997. The day time stood still. The day Singngat started treading the path of degeneration. Never to revive its glory again.
It was on this day that the fiercest battle during the Kuki-Zomi ethnic clash (1997-98) was fought. Heavily armed Kuki militants savagely attacked the once peaceful and quiet town of Singngat from around 8.45 am, shooting randomly at people and burning down houses. More than 150 houses were burnt, 18 people including women and children were killed, and 3 injured. The attack dragged on for over four hours.
They left when they were done with their murderous deed. And what remained was a devastated town, covered in ashes. Thus began a new chapter – the darkest chapter – in the history of Singngat. The Fall of Singngat.
Here’s a salute to the brave souls who gave their life for the cause of Zomi and Zogam. May their souls rest in peace.
Mr V Pauthuam (50) s/o V Routhuam
Ms Ruati (22) d/o V Pauthuam
Mr B Chinzanang (46) s/o Luaizakham
Mr Thangbiaksang (18) s.o Neihlian
Ms Biaklalpaul (25) d/o Ngulkhothawn
Mr Tualzamuan (20) s/o Thangzachin
Mr Paulunlal (17) s/o Damkhanthang
Mr Thangkhansuan (28) s/o Pastor Nengkhogin
Mr Daigouthang (47) s/o Chinthawng
Mr Mangzamuan (18) s/o Lutkhogin
Ms Niangluan (25) w/o Khawlza-awn
Mr Khamkhopau (70) s/o Ngulzam
Mr Khamzadal (84) s/o Chindai
Mr Nengkhopau (42) s/o Pumgin (Takvom)
Mr Luangin (60) s/o Vungsiam (Takvom)
Mr Zamkhochin (50) s/o Khamzathawng (Takvom)
Mr Pumsuanlal (5) s/o Zamkhochin (Takvom)
Mr Suanbiaksang (2) s/o Luanzakham (Takvom)
May history avenge this day. May God forgive the evildoers. And let Zomi rebuild Singngat and show the world that Zomi rises against adversaries. TAKHEH!
A brief overview of the Kuki-Zomi Ethnic Clash (1997-98)
From June 1997 to October 1998 two ethnic groups in Churachandpur District in Manipur, India, the majority Zomi group and a minority group, the Kuki, were involved in an open conflict. According to the Manipur government's official record, the clash claimed the lives of 352 persons, injured 136 and reduced 4670 houses to ashes. Independent sources revealed that over 50 villages were destroyed and some 13,000 people were displaced. The majority moved to areas surrounding Lamka, the district capital of Churachandpur and Mizoram, where they were housed in makeshift refugee centres in schools, hospitals, and other buildings. Several hundred Indian Army soldiers were moved into Churachandpur with the purpose of restoring order. This was not successful, however, and outbreaks of violence continued until the church brokered a ceasefire in October 1998.
The immediate cause of the Kuki-Zomi conflict was the June 24, 1997 Saikul incident. 11 Zomi innocent villagers were lined up and killed by the Kuki National Front (President), a Kuki insurgent group. Following this, communal violence erupted and swept the entire district.
The early 1990s saw an increase in the population of the Kuki refugees, originally displaced from the north of the state as a result of the Kuki-Naga Conflict (1993), in Churachandpur district. Then came along different factions of the Kuki arm groups. They began extorting moneys, kidnapping businessmen thereby disturbing the existing order of things. The Thadou tribe started imposing the nomenclature “Kuki” upon the different tribes of the district. At the same time, Zomi-centric identity consciousness began to develop among the Paite, Zou, Simte, Vaiphei, and Tedim-Chin tribes. Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO)and its armed wing, Zomi Re-unification Army (ZRA) was formed. The objective of the ZRO/ZRA is to protect the interests of the Zomis from the ‘onslaught of any community or group’. (Another objective is to bring all the Zomi people, divided by artificial State boundaries in various countries, specifically in Myanmar (Chin State), India (Manipur and Mizoram) and Bangladesh (Chittagong Hills Tracts), together under one administrative unit, a ‘Zogam’, which means ‘land of the Zomi’ under the Indian Union.)
Tension grew between the Kukis and the Zomis. Sporadic gunfight between the the KNFs and ZRA occurred. Then happened the June 24, 1997 Saikul incident. And the rest, as they say, is history.
It was July 7, 1997. The day time stood still. The day Singngat started treading the path of degeneration. Never to revive its glory again.
It was on this day that the fiercest battle during the Kuki-Zomi ethnic clash (1997-98) was fought. Heavily armed Kuki militants savagely attacked the once peaceful and quiet town of Singngat from around 8.45 am, shooting randomly at people and burning down houses. More than 150 houses were burnt, 18 people including women and children were killed, and 3 injured. The attack dragged on for over four hours.
They left when they were done with their murderous deed. And what remained was a devastated town, covered in ashes. Thus began a new chapter – the darkest chapter – in the history of Singngat. The Fall of Singngat.
Here’s a salute to the brave souls who gave their life for the cause of Zomi and Zogam. May their souls rest in peace.
Mr V Pauthuam (50) s/o V Routhuam
Ms Ruati (22) d/o V Pauthuam
Mr B Chinzanang (46) s/o Luaizakham
Mr Thangbiaksang (18) s.o Neihlian
Ms Biaklalpaul (25) d/o Ngulkhothawn
Mr Tualzamuan (20) s/o Thangzachin
Mr Paulunlal (17) s/o Damkhanthang
Mr Thangkhansuan (28) s/o Pastor Nengkhogin
Mr Daigouthang (47) s/o Chinthawng
Mr Mangzamuan (18) s/o Lutkhogin
Ms Niangluan (25) w/o Khawlza-awn
Mr Khamkhopau (70) s/o Ngulzam
Mr Khamzadal (84) s/o Chindai
Mr Nengkhopau (42) s/o Pumgin (Takvom)
Mr Luangin (60) s/o Vungsiam (Takvom)
Mr Zamkhochin (50) s/o Khamzathawng (Takvom)
Mr Pumsuanlal (5) s/o Zamkhochin (Takvom)
Mr Suanbiaksang (2) s/o Luanzakham (Takvom)
May history avenge this day. May God forgive the evildoers. And let Zomi rebuild Singngat and show the world that Zomi rises against adversaries. TAKHEH!
A brief overview of the Kuki-Zomi Ethnic Clash (1997-98)
From June 1997 to October 1998 two ethnic groups in Churachandpur District in Manipur, India, the majority Zomi group and a minority group, the Kuki, were involved in an open conflict. According to the Manipur government's official record, the clash claimed the lives of 352 persons, injured 136 and reduced 4670 houses to ashes. Independent sources revealed that over 50 villages were destroyed and some 13,000 people were displaced. The majority moved to areas surrounding Lamka, the district capital of Churachandpur and Mizoram, where they were housed in makeshift refugee centres in schools, hospitals, and other buildings. Several hundred Indian Army soldiers were moved into Churachandpur with the purpose of restoring order. This was not successful, however, and outbreaks of violence continued until the church brokered a ceasefire in October 1998.
The immediate cause of the Kuki-Zomi conflict was the June 24, 1997 Saikul incident. 11 Zomi innocent villagers were lined up and killed by the Kuki National Front (President), a Kuki insurgent group. Following this, communal violence erupted and swept the entire district.
The early 1990s saw an increase in the population of the Kuki refugees, originally displaced from the north of the state as a result of the Kuki-Naga Conflict (1993), in Churachandpur district. Then came along different factions of the Kuki arm groups. They began extorting moneys, kidnapping businessmen thereby disturbing the existing order of things. The Thadou tribe started imposing the nomenclature “Kuki” upon the different tribes of the district. At the same time, Zomi-centric identity consciousness began to develop among the Paite, Zou, Simte, Vaiphei, and Tedim-Chin tribes. Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO)and its armed wing, Zomi Re-unification Army (ZRA) was formed. The objective of the ZRO/ZRA is to protect the interests of the Zomis from the ‘onslaught of any community or group’. (Another objective is to bring all the Zomi people, divided by artificial State boundaries in various countries, specifically in Myanmar (Chin State), India (Manipur and Mizoram) and Bangladesh (Chittagong Hills Tracts), together under one administrative unit, a ‘Zogam’, which means ‘land of the Zomi’ under the Indian Union.)
Tension grew between the Kukis and the Zomis. Sporadic gunfight between the the KNFs and ZRA occurred. Then happened the June 24, 1997 Saikul incident. And the rest, as they say, is history.
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