Day: December 4, 2015

By Dr Omila Thounaojam

“Nongma mama oirakanda mama oibi amagi asengba magun khangani…” Ema repeatedly used to utter that sentence and somehow I never could understand the depth inherent in her line. The only crystal clear memory that I ever could recall whenever she used that line was the emotion she had during those moments of expression. Either she used to use it sarcastically or at the maximum when she felt disheartened at something related to us. For maximum of us, the role of a mother is only understood partially. Only in words, we use quotations, phraseologies and what not to sing glories of motherhood and its importance in our world. It’s like we worship Goddesses at our homes and torture women folks under the same homely bounds unhesitatingly. Whatever it is we are halfway through this journey of understanding our mother who is there right in front. We take many things for granted in life and in the list of the neglected elements, the figure of our mother is on the top. Many may say that it’s not the fact but it is. The fundamental role and importance of a mother in the structure of a family is always considered secondary. All the things this individual commits to in her life are counted as a normal routine responsibility. It is never hailed as something high and worth a mention. The reality is bitter as it sounds here but no one can deny the truth that our society still needs to study and understand the importance of the crucial space a mother plays in building a healthy and better society.

Why is it that until and unless the state of emergency is declared, we don’t learn lessons quick enough? How is it that we remain clueless of all the most crucial things in our life until it’s too late? We belong to an advanced society with a developed lifestyle and culture and yet we remain backward in the area of translating the closest of spaces in our life. Our relationship to our society will never reach that point of coordination until we appreciate the value of the basic human relationships in our lives. The moment we cease to digest this, it is sure that an apocalyptic future is awaiting us. When the house we dwell on has numerous holes unattended, how can we even imagine of a better survival in a secured and well-protected domain. Till today many of us has failed deeply in incorporating the best elements in life. Maximum of us travel around the world to find peace, love, comfort and what not while the best resides so close. The simple exercise of appreciating what we have got is all that we need to do to stay close with the simplest formula of living a happy life.

Now coming back to the title of my write today, let me point out that we have lost our way. In our search for all the worldly things, we have minus ourselves from the most beautiful of individuals associated to us. One common example being that of the figure of a mother – yes, the one who has always been there for us since the day we are born. It’s not only about the fact that she brought us to this gorgeous world and made us a part of its reality. What is more significant is the aspect where she has stood by us in all the seasons under the sun. Her rightful place in our lives can never be defined by words. Even then an easy way out assumption of not even dwelling with the thought related to her is a hideous act in its own right. Most of us instead of dedicating a respectful space and place to such an individual, take a comfortable alternative turn away from her presence. Such a fall out resulting from our behavioral failure has led us today in a way where isolated existence has become the core value system. What do we unfailingly do and commit ourselves into so that we revive our bond with this individual is a matter that must be prioritized.

Of all the matters of serious concerns before us, we must also accommodate this facet of treating our elders well. A very sacred relationship that deserves a high place in our lives must not be degraded at all cost. Against all odds, we must stand tall in order to safeguard the integrity of such a human relationship. Just understanding it’s worth and importance only when things fail to stand together won’t do any good to us. Today is never too late to be a new beginning. Lamenting upon a lost time won’t benefit us in any way. Instead let us recall those moments sweet and divine involving an individual so caring and selfless. Crying long hours re-understanding a situation when we ourselves become parents is a futile action since certain things done can’t be undone ever. We all know that the cycle of life must be a rounded journey. So why make mistakes at all by disrespecting this fundamental truth. Today we give no importance to our mother figures, tomorrow our children will treat us the same as we did since we taught them so as the natural law. Let’s behave well from now on practically.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/understanding-the-importance-of-motherhood/

By Samarjit Kambam

Now-a-days everybody talk about ‘genes’. Without the slightest idea one would tell another, “Its because of your genes”. Well, talking about genes is in vogue. In fact it has become fashionable to talk about genes. But it is easily mentioned than understood. In the meantime, when we talk about “Genes” some people get confused and asked “Which kind of Jeans? Levi’s, Wrangler, Lee, Calvin Klein, Cannabis etc,. Well, to make things simpler, every living organisms including we the humans are made up of cells which are the structural and functional unit of life. Each cell is made up of many components out of which Nucleus is one of the main components which plays a major role in cell division . Nucleus comprises of Chromosomes – a thread like structure which occur in pairs, made up of proteins called Histones and ends up in a highly coiled twisted ladder like structure called “Double Helix” where clusters of DNA(De-Oxyribo Nucleic Acid) molecules are randomly arranged and attached. A ‘Gene’ is a section of sequence of these DNA arrangements in the Double Helix. Genes play a major role in all life forms including inheritance, traits, evolution, mutation etc., and as such the genetic sequence are different from one person to another. Thus arise the differences among people in many traits such as appearance, colour of skin, hair, behavioral pattern, strength, receptiveness, physical structure etc. etc,.

We the humans are the species which occupy the top slot of the food chain among all varieties of species in the world. The humans are a cut above the rest of other species in the world for each one of us are gifted with a brain quite superior than that of other species and through the brain each human possesses a mind that can think independently, rationally, have memorising power, can make decisions and have “Will” power which can be harnessed and the degree of harnessing the will power differs from one person to another. Even though every humans have got brains, there are slight differences in some aspects such as thought pattern, receptiveness, reflexes, adaptability, sustainability, IQ etc., amongst all humans. A person of great will power can achieve what others consider as impossible. “Control your mind and you can control the universe” is a quote I’ve found somewhere. In fact, it is the combination of a frame of mindset and the will power that makes us what we are. Famous persons of the world have great will power by harnessing their mind in a positive and powerful way to a great extent. In fact, a lot depends on how we think, how we control our mind that gives us the apparels of attitude which we possess. Sadhus and yogis can sit in the foothill of the Himalayas without hardly any clothing. They can make themselves ‘sweat’ in the icy environment of the Himalayas. Such is the power of the human brain. The difference lies in how we channelise the power of our mind by our brain. Abraham Lincoln had had a long series of failures before he became the President of United States because of his indomitable spirit which came out of great control of his mind alongwith a ‘never say die’ attitude.

But there are many other traits in us humans that are beyond the control of our mind. As they say “like father, like son” some traits or set of characters or attributes get transgressed from one generation to another. Most children of singers possess singing talents, prodigies of most actors are born with talent for acting. Some persons get bald or have grey hair at a very young age, some ages faster contrary to their age, some suffer from diabetes, some from piles, some from congenital albinism, some from colour blindness, some from cancer and many other diseases and deformities, some are short tempered, some are belligerent, some are very compassionate since birth, some are psychotic, some suffer from OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), some gets Alzhiemer’s Dementia, some are traumatic, some are brainy and strong since birth while some are skinny, some are born deaf, some dumb, some blind, some are born beautiful, some handsome and some ugly which are beyond our control however great one’s will power is. And honestly speaking, for us guys, when it comes down to ‘looks’ who would not want to look like Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Jason Statham, Nocholas Cage, Sylvester Stallone, Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Leonardo di-Caprio, Mark Wahlberg etc., and which gals or ladies wouldn’t want to look like Alicia Silverstone, Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Catherine Zeeta Jones, Kate Winslet, Kate Beckinsale, Salma Hayek, Sophie Marceau, Hillary Duff, Kirsten Steward, Michael J Fox etc.,? Which guys wouldn’t want to possess vocals of James Blunt, Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams, Akon, Klause Meine, Ozzy Ozbourne, Bruce Dickinson, Thin Lizzy, Richard Marx, Paul Gibson, Kennie Loggins, Justin Bieber, Eric Martin, Rod Steward, Bryan Adams etc., and which ladies and gals would not want to posses vocals of Sakira, Celin Dione, Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Anguilera, Rihanna, Kesha, Taylor Swift etc, etc,.

In fact, all these differences are the handiworks of genes that resides in the cells of our body. Strange though it may sound, we humans are just like a computer in one way or the other for we are programmed since birth. Just like different programming creates different softwares, those differences in the arrangement of clusters of DNA molecules on that twisted ladder(Double Helix) in the Chromosome makes us have different traits. Say, Hollywoods hottest star Tom Cruise doesn’t seem to age at all and has an “18 Till I Die” look even though he has already crossed 50 years of age. At our home front mention may also be made of Amir Khan and Anil Kapoor who looks quite young despite their advanced ages. When I was a kid, I watched Anil Kapoor’s debut film “Meri Jung”, but till now his appearance doesn’t get a bit ‘junked’. Same is the case with Bollywood actresses such as Hema Malini and Rekha. Of course, self discipline such as practicing of Yoga, Aerobics, good eating habits and preferably being vegetarian are also some factors that contribute in delaying ageing. But still, it is the genes behind many factors and some are lucky enough as they posses good and healthy genes.

Nowadays, government of many nations are collectively working on ‘Human Genome Projects’ involving huge amount of money for betterment of mankind. The scope of such projects is quite enormous which may reach a stage whereby defective genes of an organ, say kidney, heart, liver, pancreas etc can be replaced with healthy genes so that the whole organ becomes fit as a fiddle or just like a brand new one. Such projects, if result-oriented will be quite beneficial for humankind in the days to come. In this age of “cloning”, health insurance may take a different turn. A time may come where a clone of your own self will become a health insurance policy as defective organs of your own self could be replaced by a healthy organ of your own clone. In this rate of advancement in science and technology, the possibilities are endless. Well, for the time being let’s concentrate on the present and look forward to a better tomorrow.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/are-we-programmed-since-birth/

By Misao Hejang Hangmi

More Lethal and deadlier than nuclear bomb in today’s world is one’s communal feeling and behaviour that shook the very fabric of human peaceful co-existence. Behaviour, in fact, is the end result of one’s feeling. Therefore feeling and behaviour are interconnected. Interestingly no community in the world is immune to this virus/disease. But how one directed or channelled this feeling is very important.

In Manipur people failed to direct such feeling in constructive/positive ways. Thanks to the systems that are in place and the kind of environment that we build up. The bottom line here is who is responsible for inventing such deadly virus that posed the greatest threat to humanity and has no scientific cure? Scientific advancement could bring about cure to the deadly virus like Ebola, bird flu and swine flu but its curative role to communal feeling and behaviour is very doubtful or not at all.

The said virus/disease sadly has been deeply rooted in Manipur and we’ve paid the price for it and I am afraid we will pay more with greater intensity. Every incidence has been view from the lens of communal that has the danger of chain reactions. The recent unsavoury incidence of brutally assaulting students of MBC; who were there to enjoy their own free space of friendship and without any fault of theirs is a blatant act of communal behaviour. The students were asked to which community they belong and after ascertaining that they belong to Kuki community the assault took place. Who are they that they should take the law in their own hand and sullied the peaceful environment by creating enmity between the communities through their irresponsible behavior? I feel it requires unequivocal condemnation from all angles but to my utter surprise such did not take place.

The NSCN (IM) bullying politic still went unchecked. The coercive strategy in this civilized and democratic world deployed by them on Aimol community is very unfortunate. It is nothing but a communal behaviour that vitiates the peaceful environment. One cannot decide the future of one’s community just because they are minority. Forget about national and international law, it is against God’s law. Truth itself will reveal one day. Today just because we enjoy the upper hand we cannot distort the truth. God will defend the cause of the undefended for He alone is the true judge giving regards to no mortal being and He is the God that does not tolerate injustice.

Every action has its own reaction, that’s the law of nature. And our today’s behaviour and action naturally created an environment called ‘Safe Haven Community’. Each community leave no stone unturned to make their own community strong and safe even at the cost of others. Unknowingly we’d created a culture of save your own community resulting in unrelenting competition for superiority that take us to a level of ‘Cold War’ – ready to strike at the push of a button giving rise to the infamous industry called insurgency. This is also the cause for the demand of separate administration and State. The majority feel insecure and the minority feel more insecure.

Your own community is considered the only humanity and the rest devils. That is the extent of our feeling in Manipur. What a wretch State it is and who can save us from the ‘Swords of Damocles.

There is no ‘one size fit all’ solution to our malady. One possible panacea can be doing away with our practice of close community and becoming an open community by stretching out the arms of brotherhood. For this major community has to play the role of standing in the forefront.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/fashion-called-communal-behaviour-in-manipur-threat-to-peaceful-co-existence/