Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

Mahatma Gandhi said "There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed". I do not know if there is sufficient food, shelter and clothing for everyone in the world for now and for the future. (Looking at daily news it seems like quite a lot of people lack basic amenities.) So, it is worthy and noble to at least try and conserve our natural resources as much as possible.

In the meanwhile, humankind can come up with ingenious alternatives to sustain life. Our next generation of cars could run on H2O or Nuclear. And every home energy requirement could be powered by sunlight or biomass. Who knows, Mars may very well be our new homeland. (Homeland reminds me of the constant struggle we hear of between various ethnic groups and communities for identity and political self-determination. But that is another topic in itself) Maybe this is the right time to start buying real estate on Mars, because 50 years from now, price would have appreciated greatly :)

Looking at the irresponsible ways natural resources are depleted by us humans, it seems that we would run out of oil, forest, drinking water or even clean air within our lifetimes. I have read in my science textbooks in school that the world’s oil reserves would run dry in 50 years. Don’t know what will happen to Saudi Arabia’s economy by then?

You man have heard of a few experimental towns and communities which try to become green and conserve every bit of energy. Also they try to be self sufficient and produce their own green energy from sunlight, wind, flowing water, hot springs and bio mass. Kudos to them and hope that a million more models spring up in other parts of the world.

Many Countries & Private companies are trying to be environmentally friendly; knowing that it is the right thing to do. Governments around the world hold debates and negotiations on the lines of KYOTO protocol, reducing carbon footprint and cutting down green house gas emissions. However, it seems that the already rich and developed countries find it easier to comply with while the developing and under developed countries find it difficult to adopt such policies obviously for economic reasons. Companies too try to become green - though they say it makes monetary sense, i am not quite convinced if that is true - if it is then well and good. However, i guess the majority of them want to create a good brand image by being known as a green, environmentally clean company.

There is a price to be paid for green energy and conserving the environment. Electric cars do not run as fast and cost much more than the oil guzzling versions. While the leaders of the world fight it out and the corporates brainstorm in their meeting rooms my immediate concern is: What can I contribute to a greener and healthier world?

In our own small ways, we can play our part:

• Walk or cycle instead of driving
• Switch off any unused energy consuming devices
• Keep all documents in electronic formats
• Use less amount of water for washing or cleaning
• Don't use disposable plastic/paper cups; Use glass/ steel instead
• Avoid napkins if you have clean water to wash
• Avoid plastic bags while shopping; carry you own jute/paper bag
• As much as possible Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

IQ Test...

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Cycle rally & Great June Uprising

I'm sorry the pic above is not related to me. I was Googling for a suitable image and this came up from e-pao, an online news portal from Manipur. But 'the pic' is of a Manipuri actress Bala who's on a cycle rally to save Loktak lake.

Now, getting back to where I was supposed to start... I don't remember the exact date, but I know that my whole body cramped and I suffered the worst sun burns of my life on this day.

I remember it was a cycle-rally within Imphal. Actually, it was covering a bit more than that. Me and some of my friends from Lamphel joined the Cycle-rally that was organized to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur. A show of support and reaffirmation that we were opposed to the state of Manipur being broken up and... being part of different geographic colors on the map.

In 2001, Imphal valley was burning, the issue at that time was the territorial integrity of Manipur. NSCN-IM, the mother of all insurgency operations in the North-East of India had an ongoing cease-fire agreement with the Government of India and they had recently extended the cease-fire to outside of Nagaland, including Manipur.

Geographically Manipur is a valley surrounded by hills on all sides. The Valley which comprises 1/10th the total size is the most populous and is home mostly to the Meiteis who are the majority community. The hills are majorly inhabited by different tribes of which Tankhul-Naga happen to be a sizable chunk.

Extending the cease-fire to Manipur was seen by many as essentially a step towards integrating the Naga dominated areas in Manipur with the Greater-Nagaland agenda. And this move was opposed tooth-and-nail by all.

So, as advised by our local YPA (Young Paite Association) me and my friends took out our cycles wearing our traditional scarfs and rode for practically the whole day, not knowing when the stop will come. Leikai(Village) after Leikai, we were met with people who provided us drinking water and shouts of support. In fact I stopped over a pharmacy and asked for Glucon-D and the shopkeeper was happy to give it for free. I even met an old school mate Mahesh who was a bit shocked to see me on the cycle, but happily supporting the movement. Eventually, towards evening, we reached the Polo Ground right in the heart of Imphal where there was some formal program organized. We were completely drained and after deliberating for sometime, we decided to go back home. It was time for rest, bath and relating our experiences to others.

The other events that came out of the unrest in Manipur is too well documented in media. But it was one scary time to be in Imphal. I remember the war like situation with smoke bellowing and buildings burning all around Imphal city. The local cable TV was streaming live the whole turmoil as it unfolds. Protestors fighting with police, tear gas and lathi charge, government establishments being burnt - including the MLA building, ministers quarters attacked, roads blocked, vehicles damaged, curfew all over.... It ended with 13 young lives killed in police shooting as they were trying to scale the main gate of the Chief Minister's Quarter.

These events happened on 18th June 2001. And post that there were continued disturbances and curfews in and around Imphal. End result - the territorial integrity of Manipur continues to stand to this day. The day is now know as the Great June Uprising and every year it would be a day of remembering those who died and the sacrifices they made.

One lazy sunday afternoon

I know, posting pictures helps fill up your blog... but like they say, a picture speaks a thousand words... so, there are like 13,000 words below :) anyway had captured these at home one Sunday afternoon in march 2011...

Se7en & Sins of Advertising

The movie Se7en is one of my all time favorites. Rated 8.7/10 on imdb,which means its one of the movies you cannot afford to miss. Its about two detectives (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) hunting down a serial killer (Kevin Spacey). The psychotic killer believes that he is ridding the world of bad people, by killing those who have committed the Seven Sins (Pride, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, etc).

I enjoyed this movie not only because of the gripping storyline, great acting and the suspense that holds you till the last minute, but also because I find some relationship to modern day advertising and human nature. Let me try to explain.

Back in 2007, my hostel buddy Akhil and I had a discussion on how advertising/marketing tried to actually exploit human nature. You see, many of these products sold in the market cater to one or the other of human wants and desires, not necessary human needs.

You will understand what I mean if you recall the "Neighbors envy, owners pride" ads by Onida some years back. The Devil himself was selling you the TV/VCR, saying that it will bring you pride(satisfaction) and to your neighbor, envy(jealousy). Nothing can be so much more tempting to buy. Don't you think?

Sex sells. From chewing-gum to cement to cars, you will find that a barely clad woman/ man is posing next to or promoting the product. Its flabbergasting sometimes to see what was the connection between pencils and a lady in hot-pants? Lust in all its deceptive charms.

Food, glorious food is being paraded in front of our eyes in all its mouthwatering form. If you actually go to buy them then you will be sorely dissapointed. Because the food they have shown you on TV/Print-ads looks way much better than the real one which is served to you. Also, when you eat it, it does not feel as yummy as it is claimed to be. Every bite stimulating the instinct of Gluttony.

Based on these ads I have seen, and its effects, it seems to me that advertisers will find more innovative ways of appealing to our wants and desires. They have the primitive instincts of lust, gluttony, envy, pride, etc to play around with. And it seems that they never fails, at least most of the time.

So, here I am planning to include a study on how advertising can exploit the Seven Sins. Maybe put it up as a course in Consumer Behavior. And if you happen to do that, don't forget to acknowledge the source of the idea - yours truly ;)

Enjoy watching Se7en.

All good things must come to an end

Feeling nostalgic while driving back home last Sunday evening... It was just after the ZCF B office bearers portfolio allocation... After two consecutive years of being the Chairman, i have now moved to a less prominent role as a member and frankly, I'm relieved :)

For those who do not know, ZCF stands for Zomi Christian Fellowship. All major cities in India and some cities in US and other parts of the world, have their own ZCF. The Bangalore Zomi Christian Fellowship was started in 1993 and has been catering to the religious and social needs of Zomis' in Bangalore. It is an excellent platform where different communities come together and share...

The past 2 years ZCF experiences has been "bittersweet" and the memories will stick with me for the rest of my days... Organizing freshers day, Christmas, sports-meet, raising funds, meeting new people, taking care of the sick and condoling the dead, dealing with various organizations, being a mediator in disputes, standing in front of a crowd and delivering speeches, meetings on weekends - just a few of the diverse hats I had an opportunity to wear...

Sometimes have been tough and some have been happier times... but all of them have taught me new things about life and I'm grateful for the learnings... it feels good to be able to participate and contribute something for your community... Though it was tiring and involved making efforts and sacrifices, I do not regret it... In fact while trying to write down the negative points, I could not proceed beyond a couple of them... However, the positive points kept on increasing and it made me realize that I had a very good time...

One of my former boss in office told us that leaders, when they survive tough times, gain valuable experiences... and they end up writing books about it and sharing them... Neither do I have that much of experiences to share nor do I write too well...

But, I have seen that learning by doing is the most effective and also that one should never let go of an opportunity to do the right thing, even if its not the easiest, you will not regret in the long run...

So much for my thoughts now... till then, take care!

12th April 2011
Siam

Kawlbem, Mizoram - First hand experiences as a 5 year old kid

My first experience flying in an aeroplane was in a Vayadooth (remember the small 25 seater aircraft that wobbles a lot in the air as if you were riding on a potholed road and the engines sounded so loud you could almost not hear the person next to you). The flight was from Silchar to Imphal... It was (I don't remember the year - maybe 86-87), but we (me and my parents) had gone to Kawlbem - a small village in Mizoram for my cousins tombstone laying ceremony. My cousin (brother) had died in a Jeep accident a few years back...

We were done with the ceremony in Kawlbem and were on our way back home to Imphal. We decided to take the plane, though we traveled by bus on the forward journey. This was because the previous bus travel was particularly hard on me (nausea and vomit). I was very excited to be on a plane for the first time. I don't know why but the plane was very empty, in total we had just 7 people on board including the crew. So, the plane was all for us and I moved from window to window looking outside. Just before the takeoff, dad had to firmly tell me to get seated and put on my seat belts. I do not really remember the 20 odd minutes we were on the plane, maybe i slept off or maybe I was feeling nausea. Just that we reached Imphal really fast... compared to the bus :)

Enough said about the Vayadooth travel. Let's go to the Kawlbem experience. I vaguely remember the long ride to Kawlbem (from Aizawl - the capital of Mizoram - courtesy a relative who generously loaned us his Gypsy) through the smallest of bends and most uneven paths. Paths created by men (and animals) on their way to the next village.. helped by the free flowing rain water. 

Kawlbem at that time consisted of a little less than 100 families/houses. Many of the houses had thatched roofs, though some of the newer ones had tin roofs... most of the houses were elevated from the ground by wooden logs which form the basic foundation and structure of the huts. So, the occupants were actually not touching the ground, but the floors were made of wooden planks or bamboo mats. Each hut had a fire place and above that was called a khin-tung. This khin-tung was used to keep various delicacies - smoked meat, sathu - fermented fat, etc.

Recently a colleague of mine in office had seen people (in some south-Asian countries) keeping pieces of meat near the fire place for months together. She was curious and shocked to know that they actually eat them later on. I believe it is the same kind of preparation i am talking about in Kawlbem. In villages where they do not have regular supply of fresh meat and no cold storage, this was one of the best way of preserving meat (done traditionally).. and believe me they taste just fine...

Everything was new for a small-town boy like me who has never seen the real village life in the hills. I have fond memories of waking up early in the morning and taking long walks in the jungles surrounding the village, eating berries and watching birds dance... I was sure that people in Kawlbem have never heard of He-Man, the Master of the Universe. So, one fine day, this proud little boy went to atop the village hill and shouted out "He-Man, Master of the Universe"... Some people who heard may think that I was crazy.... but it was fun. Remember "I am the king of the world" shout in Titanic, it was something like that.. :)
 
Traditional Go-Karts ran from the top of the village-hill to to the bottom of the village... I tried them, it was pure bliss... The only downside was that the driver had to carry his Kart back to the top after each exhilarating ride downhill. The whole structure was hand made from sticks and bamboo. Even the wheels were round pieces of tree trunks... Also, one Go-Kart was meant for one person only. Maybe there are bigger more advanced versions of them that I did not see during my brief stay there.... Anyway, while riding these machines, you control the direction with your foot while holding onto the strings attached and pray that you don't encounter a bump or hole in the road..

Getting lost somewhere in the small village was a thrilling experience... These were always chances for more discovery... The people who predominantly spoke Paite, my mother-tongue were very friendly.. And there was nothing to be afraid of..
I remember singing a solo(Mara mun ah dang takin.. tui riuriu) in the small village church and getting a gift - a simple flower, a decorative item from the church... Well, it must have been something, because i remember it 20+ years later...

Also saw a full length tiger fur...the Tiger was supposedly shot by my hunter uncle... And huge horns of a buffalo and trophies of other wild animals were decorating the chief's house... I saw first hand how people survived the cold winter on logs of wood collected from the jungles..

In my society, any community event is a time for feasting... So, during the tombstone laying ceremony, we were supposed to have a feast... And any feast is incomplete without a four legged animal... This time it was the turn of a huge Buffalo.. The Buffalo was tied with ropes on all four legs and fed salt (these animals liked salt - don't know why)... One hunter got his rifle and shot at the beast between the eyes, but the bullets just caused a bright spark and bounced right off its thick skull.. then it ran off, breaking all the ropes... straight into the jungles... A few brave men followed in hot pursuit... If they did not manage to nab it, then its goodbye to feasting (heard that this had happened sometime back in some other village too).. After some hours and a number of gunshots later, we heard that the Buffalo was killed and the whole village could return to its feasting ways.. Well I don't really like Buffalo, but that was quite an adventure don't you think...
 
Another memorable event was shopping in the local bazaar... I remember my aunt buying me the best shirt available - a red checked one.. I loved it and i treasured every moment of wearing it... Maybe that was the only shirt that I got from my aunt before she left for above.. I still love her and think about her... (The pic on the right has me wearing the Red Checked Shirt)

Those were the highlights of my Kawlbem visit... I would love to see the place sometime again, hope its still as beautiful as before... Latest news: Heard that past residents of Kawlbem and adjoining villages had a re-union... my dad went too.. but not very sure what came out of it.. feasting was one definite thing.. but this time no Buffalo running off in the jungle.. :P