Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 24: Dr Sarbjit Singh Nagra, Director of Instruction, Central Agricultural University, Imphal has been conferred the Life Time Achievement Award `“ 2014, by the Indian Poultry Science Association on December 18, 2014 at Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.

According to a release, the award has been given in recognition of his contributions in the field of Poultry Science Education. Born on February 3, 1952 in a remote village of Punjab, Dr Nagra did his B.Sc. Agriculture Honours in Animal Science in 1975, M.Sc. 1978 and Ph.D. 1982 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

It said he was recipients of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships of ICAR for M.Sc. and Ph.D. Programme. He began his service as a Research Fellow in 1982 in the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Continuing his journey through different positions in PAU and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences Universities, Ludhiana, he became the Director of Instruction in Central Agricultural University, Imphal in 2013.

The statement continued that during his career, Dr Nagra made significant contributions in the field of Animal Husbandry, particularly to Poultry Nutrition, Housing and Management. He has more than 165 national and international Publications, one patent, authored two books and contributed chapters in another 5 books.

As Director of Instruction, Dr Nagra has brought several reforms to improve the academic activities of Central Agricultural University, Imphal (Manipur) and its constituent colleges. He introduced the programmes for holding sports and cultural competitions in the Central Agricultural University after his joining as Director of Instruction through Inter Collegiate Athletic Meet of the constituent colleges of CAU and ensured the participation of CAU students in the Inter-versity, Zonal and National Games and Cultural Events, the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/cau-faculty-offered-lifetime-achievement-award-for-academic-excellence/

IMPHAL, December 24: The United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly condemned the blast that killed three civilians at a tea stall at Khoyathong.

A statement issued by its president Gaidon Kamei, sharing the grief and pains of the families and dear ones of those who had lost their precious lives and also to all those who had been injured by the bomb, prayed that their souls rest in peace and also pray speedy recovery for the injured persons.

UNC condemned all forms of violence and those involved in planting and to explode bombs in public places, it said.

All right thinking person should raise their voices together so that such incidences are not repeated again. We appeal all group(s) and individual(s) to refrain from such inhuman acts in future, it continued.

In spite of deploying thousands of state security forces at the state capital Imphal, kidnapping, rape, murder and criminal activities are the routine of the day, it said.

`Right under O Ibobi`s nose, series of bomb blast had occurred but he cannot check and prevented them. There is no security in the valley. It has become the hotspot of chaos and disorder`.

Moreover, the UNC stating that the Nagas and tribals and innocent life of the mainland Indians are unsafe and insecure under his government, it criticised that Manipur Government of Manipur under O Ibobi by using all available resources and also, while opposing and attempting to derail

Hard-earned peace and its Naga political solution, his Kangleipak has been transformed into a pond of blood.

It had been proven to one and all that many of such criminal activities are being managed and carried out craftily in collusion with all available state machineries and non state actors just to create law and order situation for his chair but the Government of India is glorifying him, statement further held.

`Chief Ministers` bungalow was attacked four times and also several times at Raj Bhavan by undergrounds in connivance with state machineries`.

Claiming that the Nagas are peace loving people can longer live safely and peacefully under Ibobi`™s rule, it drew the attention of the Government of India to take political action upon Ibobi`™s government.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/unc-condemns-khoyathong-blast-flays-ibobis-policy/

IMPHAL, December 24: The Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) has expressed gratitude towards the government for the withdrawal of the Govindajee Temple (3rd Amendment) Bill, 2014.

According to a release of UKAL, it also expressed gratitude towards Ministers, MLAs, members of UKAL, experts of Sana Konung and Sanamahi Temple, leaders, teaches of Manipur University and colleges, Legal experts and members of parliament, scholars of Umang Lai, Amaibas and

Amaibis, Penas, Officials of the Prime Ministers, volunteers of Naat, leaders of Tangkhul, Kabui, Maring, Kom, etc., staffs of print and electronic media, columnists, artists of Sumang Leela and films, retired employees, various Umanglai lup members, Manipuri communities of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Myanmar, UK, Australia and Canada, Nupi lups for their support to boycott the Bill, it said.

However, in order to prevent any problems in the future to rise against Umanglai, it has appealed to dismiss the Govindajee Temple 3rd Amendment Bill, 2014 entirely. The Joint Committee on Umanglai (JCU) which is formed by 43 different lups situated in Manipur and outside has discussed on various steps to be taken up to develop Umanglai and Lai Haraoba. The lup once again conveyed gratitude towards the people and the government in withdrawing the Bill. It further stated that it will also support the government in the development works taken up for the benefit of Umanglai, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/umang-lai-lup-happy-bill-is-dropped/

IMPHAL, December 24: Lui Ngai Ni traditionally celebrated as the Naga Seed Sowing Festival has been observed in a more organised and formal manner for the last 28 years. A decision to make it formal and by its current name `Lui Ngai Ni` was taken in December 24, 1987 by the organising committee of Naga Seed Sowing Festival, Ex-chairman of Hills Area Committee, RV Mingthing stated in a press meet today at his quarter in Lamphel.

The name was changed because elder people of our community want the English name to be changed into an alternative name in the language of the Naga communities which was achieved by the great effort of Imphal Municipal Council ex-chairman G Moirangjao and his deputy Phaomei Thambaljao, and ex-councillor of ward number 26 of IMC, M Maringa.

They were able to change the name by combining `Lui`™ a word borrowed from the Tangkhul community and `Ngai`™ which is borrowed from the Zeliangrong community and `Ni`™, a word of the Mao community, he added.

The festival, which heralds New Year and in its wake is expected to bring joy and happiness, celebrated on February 15 every year was declared as a state holiday by former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing on February 28, 1988, he said.

Mingthing said we should not forget that the foundation for converting the Naga Seed Sowing Festival into Lui Ngai Ni was laid on December 24.

Ex-chairman of IMC, G Moirangjao said the festival which is recognised by the government should be organised as a state festival in a proper place where all the Naga communities can gather and participate thereby turning it into a beautiful festival.

The spokesman of Tangkhul Welfare Association at Lamphel, RV John said the Lui Ngai Ni festival includes many events such as a beauty pageant, cultural dance, demonstration of sports and ancients war tactics etc but the festival is slowly losing its relevance as the current generation is indifferent to the real meaning and symbolism of Lui Ngai Ni. Only the older people are excited about the festival nowadays, he adds.

In the press meet, former Vice-chairman of IMC, Phaomei Thambaljao and former councillor of ward number 26, M Mainga also participated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/lui-ngai-ni-architects-call-for-adding-vigour-to-the-fest-to-keep-up-its-relevance/