The Thriving Chaos

The hard landing at Jaipur by AI890 is behind us. It is a new life and the journey has commenced again with full fervour and dedication. The biggest lesson of the event is that life has its own perils and it is not worthwhile to waste it or its priceless assets.       

 2014 has begun with a bang. This year is crucial for everyone in some way or the other. Big events are unfolding in almost every sphere of life and will touch upon all of us. We need to see these events with a giant vision so that we can see far and wide. The World thrives on chaos and can we escape from the ever evolving chaos? A large number would agree that there is no escape from the omni present chaos. Surely, most of you would agree that we are active participants of this "chaos" phenomenon and generate our future with our own acts.     

 The sheer wastage caused by humans is an ideal example of the ever evolving chaos. Most of us have scant regard for resources at our disposal. We do not care for precious assets like water and electricity. In most of our Offices, leaking taps and day time burning lights are a normal phenomenon. Very few bend/extend their arms to shut a leaking tap or a tube light during the day time. PCs are kept running even when the desk is empty and TV is kept switched on even when the Boss is away. Alas, the lack of meters to gauge the consumption keeps the chaos thriving.The same habits are passed on to the new generations and the chaos persists.         

Recently, I found examples of Geysers being left switched on from night so that warm water is available with the first light!! In older accommodations and especially high rise buildings, the hot water pipeline goes through stresses and strains and bursts. The houses under the bursted pipeline feel the brunt and seepage sets in their walls.The chaos haunts the residents of the houses with seepage in walls!!    

 Similar is the story of the garbage disposal where most of us just clean our own houses but do not dispose off the garbage properly. The climate is the sure shot victim of this thriving chaos.   

We are surely on an edge and 2014 can become a crucial year for many of us. The thriving chaos cannot be stopped,but, for sure, can be stalled. Let the leaking taps be plugged, the burning lights be minimized and the electrical equipments be used economically. Let us stall the thriving chaos.

JOURNEY OF FOX MEMORABILIA TO ANTARTICA

The Fox Diamond Jubilee Memorabilia-2012 has been traveling. Recently COMMODORE (R) RAY D'SOUZA/FOX/26 traveled to ANTARTICA with the Fox Memorabilia. Kindly click on the link below and enjoy the majestic journey of the Fox Memorabilia:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5813315210777901153?authkey=CJf4wbD369vnuwE

Travelogue Manipur-VIII-Imphal to New Delhi via Jaipur in AI890!!

The ceremonies at Moreh got completed on 04 Jan 14.Early 05 Jan 14, we shaped course for Imphal which is 110 Kms from Moreh. The axis between Moreh and Imphal has been freshly laid and we could catch good speed.

      

The defence id is extremely helpful on this road as there are check posts of Assam Rifles,Police and Forest lined up. The vehicles are stripped open for checks and this is where the defence id saves a considerable amount of time. En-route I saw an AR post named "Fighting Foxtrot" and I stopped to shake hands with a young Major who was positioned there.Sharing some gen on Foxtrot,we moved on.We reached Imphal's Tulihal Airport and boarded AI 890 to New Delhi via Guwahati.

    

The flight was full to its capacity.The AI Captain Jalaj Vats made a timely landing at Guwahati and soon the packed aircraft was airborne for New Delhi. Whilst coming in for landing at New Delhi,Capt Vats pulled up as the visibility fell to a near Zero! He reported that he would make another attempt or else divert to Jaipur/Lucknow. Another 20 min in the air and he reported a diversion to Jaipur. The tired passengers just sat quietly.

     

Coming in at Jaipur,we could not see anything outside the windows!However,the Captain announced landing stations and the flight speed remained a bit high for my comfort. Soon,we hit the soft ground adjacent to the runway as the fuel strapped Boeing made an emergency landing.The plane was at a high speed and its rear tyre bursted with a loud thud.The plane was shaking voilently as its left wing got hit by some object and the Captain used great skills to bring it to a halt. Small children slipped from their seats including our son Agastaya and went inside the forward seats. There was panic all around as the cabin lights went out.

      

The emergency lights were brought on and the temperatures inside the cabin soared. The plane was now stranded in the middle of runway and visibility was dead zero. We were finally evacuated and taken to the terminal. At 1 am,AI checked us inside a hotel and I could see a sign of relief in the eyes of co-passengers.

     

I am writing this travelogue whilst on way to Delhi in an AI arranged Volvo. The grit and courage of Captain Jalaj Vats was exemplary and deserves kudos.The ground staff support was quick and they were accomodating inspite of hiccups by few unruly passengers.

    

Yesterday was an action filled day and many more travelogues will follow.

Travelogue Manipur-VII

The time has been zipping past me at Moreh. The buzz of New Year is in the air and sounds of music and revelry can be heard each night. The Churches, Temples, Mosque and Gurudwara of Moreh are closely located and the enamoring sounds have made the environment pleasant and full of fun.

           Since, we are here this time to lay the Memorial Stone for my Mother-in-Law, hence, I have been travelling deep inside Moreh and Tamu to invite friends and relatives. Cruising on our 2 wheelers, myself, my Father-in-Law, my Brother-in-law and Aparna have seen these two towns like never before. Its a delight to meet people of various castes, creed, religion and co-exisitng in a compact townhip. They welcome you with happiness and offer their best for the family event lined up on 03 Jan 2014.

         In the course of our movement, I also met young, energetic and extremely dynamic Police Officer from Manipur Police Services- Mr H Balram. Mr Balram heads the Police Force at Moreh and is also the Immigration Officer-in-Charge. A pleasing persona, it is rare to meet such a person. His life is full of true courage and saga and he has met all the adversities with his sound principles. I had a frutiful and meaningful interaction with Mr Balram and was pleased to see that the entire town has tremendous regards for him and his Police team.

       As I had mentioned in my last Manipur Travelogue-V & VI, that we had coceptualised and planned a "Clean & Green-2014" campain for the local Hermon Jr High School. This school is run by a young Lieutenant from The Salvation Army, Lt David Sanga (Mob-09402268853 and his email id is angeldavid_hermon@gmail.com. It would be great if some of you can chip in with your part and help a few students and in turn the School). Mr Balram also joined the initiative and we had a great launch of the campaign on 01 Jan 2014. The local media keenly followed the event and the details can be accessed by pasting the link http://thepeopleschronicle.in/?p=30918

in your browser and accessing the media file. The photos of the event an be accessed by clicking the following link:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5964896768016442033?authkey=CN-oxZ3gvO2xPw

        The beauty of Moreh is coming around of communities to join and help the family. The Young Mizo Association (YMA) of Moreh of which my Late Mother-in-Law Mrs Thankungi Sailo was the founder, rallied around us and a grand event unfolded on 03 Jan 2014 as we released the Memorial Stone to the friends and relatives who had travelled from far and wide. It was a sombre and nostalgic event.

       This trip to Moreh has been extremely educative and involved a good deal of travelling and meeting people. The place needs attention if it has to be a part of India's Look East initiative. Young people like Mr H Balram and Lt David Sanga need to be supported and helped to complete their initiatives. Clean and Green -2014 would continue in the Hermon Jr High School and we would be keenly watching the nascent steps from New Delhi.

       Wish you all a grand 2014 and donate , if you can for this unique campaign.

Green campaign launched in Moreh

Green campaign launched in Moreh

Travelogue Manipur-V-27-29 Dec 2013

The early mornings in Moreh are chirpy and noisy. The neighborhood's Cock gets into his act at 0345 hrs.The Chain Reaction then sets in. The Gurudwara's Giani starts the holy scripture reading by 0500 Hrs and the road in front of our house starts bustling with activity and you can see the local residents and tourists beginning their day. The Taxi operators start warming up their engines for another trip to Imphal and further on. Each round trip from Imphal to Moreh and back is around Rs 5000/- these days in a Maruti Omni Van!!

       

The close proximity between Moreh and the Myanmar Town "Tamu" is a boon in many ways.Exotic fruits,vegetables and fish are available in plenty in the border market called "Namphlong".Namphlong has originated from twisiting of words "Nine Furlong"!! The gates are open here and one can walk into the Market from 0600 hrs onwards to do the daily purchases.

      

The beauty of both Moreh and Namphlong (Market on Myanmar Side) is the vast range of breakfast and meal options alongwith some great alcohol variants. Dosa,Uttapa,Thattaya,Ichiyakoya,Shan Khausoye, Noodles of various kinds, Poori-Bhaji,Samosa,soups of various kinds etc etc are available to set the stomach into a tango mode. A glass of draft beer @ Rs 30/- is my water compensator at 1100 hrs.This liquid settles the stomach bugs and prepares the stage for exotic non-veg stews.

      

Moreh is growing exponentially. I have been travelling to invite folks and communities for my Mother-in-Law's Stone Laying Ceremony scheduled on 03 Jan 13. The visit to the graveyard reveals that the average age in Moreh is much lesser than the Indian standards.The fresh grave was of a 1976 born man. Inspite of fresh environment, a lot of people lose their lives due to stomach related ailments. The burgeoning population from various communities is devouring the hills.The graves have become boundaries of houses!!

   

Moreh is sitting on an ecology disaster time bomb. The wooden houses have given way to concrete buildings.The SBI ATM is operational and a town is shaping up.However,there is no town planning and nil garbage management system in town and litter can be seen in many places including the small river cutting through the town is littered with plastics-tons of it.

     

I had a visitor on the 28th Dec.He is a Lieutenant in The Salvation Army and a Mizo.He is a graduate from the Khalsa College,Delhi and is from a good family.His elder sister is a Doctor in the Indian Army and his younger sister is an IPS Officer. This 36 year old shy Pastor is now managing a 1969 established Hermon Junior High School,Moreh. I saw him working on ground as the school has just bare minimum funds to support poor students and pay the teachers. The Principal's salary is Rs 11,000/- per month and there are times wheb he gives away his salary for supporting his students. The drop out rate of students is high as education is not a priority for people here. They push their children into jobs if opportunity strikes.

     

We had a discussion on Moreh's geo-socio-eco setup. We came up with an idea that Hermon Junior High School,Moreh will celebrate 2014 as "Clean and Green-2014".In this process,the school will undertake following:-

    a) Adopt a One Sq. Km area around the school premises           and keep in clean.

    b) Plant green trees in its sprawling campus which is in           urgent need of maintenance but funds are lacking.

    c) Approach all relevant ministeries in Centre and State           and seek grants to maintain the falling school                             infrastructure and to create 02 extra rooms in the school.

    

The monthly fee for a student is Rs 250/- and the Principal ,Lt David Sanga of the Salvation Army, has also set up a hostel within the School Compound to keep the poor children and uplift them socially and mentally.It is,Folks, a tremendous act by this man.

     

To begin this noble activity,a small programme is planned in the school premises on 01 Jan 2014. Brig (Retd) Suresh Datt/E/C/27 is arriving at Moreh on 31 Dec 13 on a personal visit and he would be inaugrating this new initiative for Hermon Junior High School. The Principal of school Lt David Sanga is available on Mob-09402268853 and his email id isangeldavid.hermon@gmail.com. It would be great if some of you can chip in with your part and help a few students and in turn the School.

Kindly click the below link to enjoy the photos of this Travelogue:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/101238588481972006061/albums/5961948447648705713?authkey=CMbi9IzBt-Xhag

Travelogue Manipur-IV- 25 & 26 Dec 2013

Moreh has an old world charm. I first came here in 1994 and since then each visit has been special and refreshing to the core of my heart. Moreh is an amalgamation of various cultures and religions. This small but now expanding town (Kasba) is located on the IBL with Myanmar and the town on the Myanmarese side is called Tamu.

       

Both Moreh and Tamu depend on the cross-border trade and provide a gateway to the respective ex-British Colonies. The rustic ambience of Moreh is delightful and so are the family and folks who stay here. It is heartening to meet smiling neighbors and relatives who travel far to connect the dots of relations. As a mark of love,honor and respect,the tribal folks bring along a live Chicken to be cooked for my lunch.On the other side, an invite to the Meitei (Manipuri) neighborhood welcomes us with traditional culinary delights.

        

A visit to Tamu is full of revelry and fun. The "Draught Beer" is good and the exotic Burmese dishes set the spirits rocking. The fresh air in this place fills the lungs with turbo energy and the aching limbs become charged again. The connectivity matrix has improved each year and today I am pushing this write-up through my hand held phone. There was a time when I would get up at 0330 hrs to get a 5 min call to Moreh. India has come a long way since then and now I can surf the broadband at any time on various mobile networks ruling the airwaves at Moreh.

      

The knock of 2014 is in the air.The hum and din is spread all over the town. The people here take hardships and fun in their stride.Happiness prevails even amongst the CI Environment!!!