one of my friend organized a summer camp for teenagers. I m chief organizer but it is great to be child like with them.
It is next clearly generation. Children from villages are amazing in many ways.

Great fun…

i m likeing new songs these days.
becomming mod?

The Days In Manipur

th February
My road was along side of The Jafu peak – a heist point in Nagaland, I was all the observing that marvelous mountain. In winter the tips are covered with ice here. Just after 7km ride I entered in Manipur it was ‘Mao’ village colony of Mao Naga.
It was Makhan, my first halt in Manipur. Except state not much things were changed. Village chairmen just ran towards me when I just stoped there. He was very learned person and here he got a person from outside to talk a lot with him. They were treating me as if I am a officer. Though it was dark we went to see mushroom cultivation. Three types of trunks are available here which grew mushrooms just by providing moist atmosphere. Everywhere Food arrangement is done by nature, great.

21st and 22nd February
After a short ride I happened to view a crowed marching on the way. It was starting of my journey and was rushing to cross it and move further but I stood still for a moment and joined them. A ‘athiti’ was warmly welcomed in marriage ceremony. There was group with beautiful traditional dressing and ornament. They have lots of beautiful things on there nody made out of bird feathers, which are naturally colorful. I searched a lot for the musical instrument in that crowed and remain surprised when I found none. They were making a lovely sound by their mouth which was unimaginable. After marriage the coupe enters in a new house, so it was a house opening ceremony too, I participated in that. Lorance was giving details of the new things and customs. All types of meet was cooked for treat. I was glad to be a part of an unexpected thing – the traditional marriage.

At Karong I was directed to Vaiw = king of that Puimai Nagas. He was a bindhast person. Because of his request I stayed at Karong for two days. The place where I was staying few Bangoli, muslim workers two Meetai officers (Manipuri) my host king of Puimui Naga and I was a composite group was there, because of which I denied the offer to stay in a luxurious guest house constructed by British in 1889. I visited it next day was beautiful architectural structure and was residence of British officer.
Visit to meeting point of Barkh and Senapati rivers. Fishing in the river and visit to sericulture unit with Subash I enjoyed.
Songs dance and chat till late in night with that composite group was specialty of Karong. They taught me a Manipuri/Meetai song
Hing mi nashi aykhoy
Malen lekoi seda.
meaning ‘let’s leave together’, Which I sung on my way thereafter and entered in the hearts of Manipuris.

23rd February
Riding down the bicycle, And just rideing. Kanglatumbi is a village where almost all people are gorkhas/ Nepalis. To understand our world and explore, enjoy diversity this halt was great. People from a long distance had mixed up here in the regional color and still alive with their own cultural things. There they called me gust of the village and Teena and Bunga literally made it true. At night and next morning they took me to almost twenty different houses and there I ate lots of things.

24th
Now the way to Imphal is almost plain. Imphal is a city on plain and on every side it has hills surrounded. When we travel towards it we see plain rice farms and then high hills on either sides of us.
When I reached in Imphal I directly went to meet Miss. Sharmila. I was very happy to know that everybody knew about her and was directing me on the road. Sharmila is a young leady on hunger strike from last nine years(since 2000) in opposition to Armed Force Special Power Act or AFPSA imposed by central government.. She was in judicial custody in JN hospital under the charge of committing suicide. I didn’t plan much and not involve myself in many formalities so I directly went in the ladies security ward and met her. It was a impossible thing otherwise, she was also surprised. I just feel proud to meet her, she shared her story, we talked about inhuman effects AFPSA, the human right’s violation in Manipur. She showed nuber of written works, literature and gifted me her poem’s book.
From last three days there was total curfew imposed in Imphal after the violent agitation against killing of SDM and two of his collogues. yeste day and today there was release from 6am to 5pm. It was almost five so I approached to police station the office in charge arranged for my stay. I was having few contacts but because of curfew I was not able to contact them. I thought I will do it tomorrow. This was my first night in my life in ‘such’ tense situation.

25th
I contacted Vasant sing and Rosan Premi who are active members of National Youth Project. Vasanta is NE co-coordinator of Rastrya Yuva Sangathan. It was great to talk with him. We went to few tourist spots in the city too. My host’s Roshan’s Brother was killed by militants 13 year ago. He shared the story with me. I come to know the uncertain life in Imphal and almost everybody wish for Independent Manipur.

26th
I started my journey towards Moreh – the last town of India bordering with Myanmar. It was NH 39 again. But no NH effect was observed. Pukhari culture was seen. But the yellow farms I have seen of muster I often remember.
After 48 Km it was Pallel a bit after that Mr. ksen asked me not to go further and put up with him in his house. It was not that dark but I accepted his invitation. Both of his sons were gitar player Momo was football player and was recognized by sports authority of India (SAI). His daughter-in –law was Khasi from Meghalya. I refreshed my memories with her. This was Thamlapokpi and her Langkan Nagas are there. Music, sport talk, talk of the region and the world, a single night was small for us. Mr. Ksen’s grand son Ovhen of seven years was good at Khasi, Langkun, Hindi and English delighted me a lot.

27th
49 is the record number of kilometers that I traveled in hilly region. On plains it is nothing but then I was tired today. Roads were lonely but beautiful scenic.
Mr. Pachu the headmen of the Khudagthapi were hosting me. He expressed his love by serving nice food. His son was in Assam Rifles and was on holydays. This was my first and only halt with Kuki family. (Kuki is a one of the major community of the Manipur).

28th February.
This turned out ‘the historic day’ in my life.
I crossed 13 km and was at Moreh. I faced a three hour long interrogation of police, finally they asked me to return back just from there. I didn’t fallow them and went through the Market place of two nations. When I went to Immigration office, they didn’t found any thing rong with me and gave me the one day pass to enter in Myanmar.
First time in my life I crossed yhe international border and that too with bicycle.
Myanmar - clean, well arranged, one hour ahed of India, right hand drawn, with people well electronically equipped but slightly dissatisfied with the military rule. I just got a glimpse.
Tamhu was the town I first visited. It has a big international market with cheep electronic things. Lots of Monasteries are here I visited one and one Buddhist ‘Bakhoda’ too.
I returned back to India. (The pass was for one day i.e. 8am. To 5pm.) One businessmen from Rajasthan asked me to join him at his place. Here lots of outsiders are there; basically they were for business here. Since it is at border it is a kind of Adda for traders.

1-3rd Mar.
Since it was same hilly road for going back, I decided to go back putting my bicycle in a vehicle. but how it was possible to found a comfortable vehicle, while going away from this market place every vehicle was full with it optimum capacity, so I approached Assam Rifles. They agreed to support me but the convey was scheduled to move on 4th so they asked me to stay with them. They provided me VVIP guest house and facilated number of thing with Army fashion.
In these three days I made three trips to Myanmar. Explored the surrounding area of tamhu, talked and made lots of friends. Tried to understand their festivals, customs, calendar, about their country and their opinion regarding n number of things. After returning in India I had long discussion with army peoples. Assam rifels is one where you will find a person from almost every state of India, the say. I really love this kind of community. So I had a fantastic time there.

4th march
With five different vehicles our convey left Moreh. When we reached Imphal transit camp it was almost dark I went to Roshan’s home

5th – `8th mar.
My plan was to leave Imphal on 5th but just because Roshan insisted I stayed there so long. I had a worth time there.
We visited State Mesum, the kangla – ancient capital of Manipur. Loktak Lake(40Km). KabulBamjo - worlds only floating National park. INA (Indian National Army (SubhashChandra Bose’s)) measum. Morang – the place where Independent India’s flag was firstly hosted after defeating britishers in 1944.
II World War crematory.
We also interacted with lots of friends and learned persons. HemantSingh – precdent of journilist’s union, prof. Gangumai. Jayantya student’s leader and several others.
9th march
It was NH 53, the way to Silchar. I was eager to reach the destination so didn’t talked much. Rested at Avangkhul with Rungmai Nagas.

10th
I cycled or a distance but was tired of hilly and dusty road. I kept my bicycle on the top of a bus and sat there. It was great through those hilly big mountains. Sitting in the bus and on the bus is totally different things, I realized.
One friend gave me a contact of a person at Lakhipur – just near the border of Manipur. I got down At Jiribam the bordering town of Manipur and Assam and walked 2 Km for Lakhipur. Child Welfare Ashram’s (CWA) founder director Mr. Ibotonsingh came later his son joy Chandra was talking with me. When Iboton came he gave me a hug and we talked as if we were old friends.

10-13
The meeting turned into five day halt because of the lovely memberers of the family and of locality. It was event and festival time. I participated in Youth Development Camp and two day Health Mela organized by CWA. Spring Meet a four day sports and cultural event organized by Meerai Club, Lakhipur. And Thabalchombi – group dance at night exclusively for unmarried young girls and boys. All these events were because it was holi time. I was glad to experience that the celebration of holi was taking position of ‘spring meet’ in Manipur. Where every morning and eveninig lots of games and sport compotetions are organized for every age groups boys and girls. Participation in Thabalchombi delighted me. the tr additional way of interaction of young boys and girls freely is notable.
All the way joy was with me and Iboton’s young daughter vidyalaxmi was with great energy participating in almost every game. I used to call her ‘second son’ (of Iboton).
With these I earned lots of friends here.

14th
It was really tuff to leave my second home or ‘my home in Manipur’. Vidyalaxmi and Rajkumar joined me for 16 Kms. This was their longest travel ever on bicycle. Boys were really energetic.
Via Silchar Batarpur is 68 I cycled 30 rest of it I went by vehicle.
When I visited Tripura, Mizoram in 2007 by byicycle that time I was here at Batarpur. The old friends welcomed this jajabor the wanderer once again. We were glad to meet again. Last time I visited this place twice and stayed for five days, so many friends were there. I was attracted by the Barakh river and the green life along side of her with pukhari culture.
Not causally they have invited me to reside there I am seriously thinking about it but never know what will happen. Re visiting the same place…cant be described
Though I thought of it was not possible to leave Batarpur early. I spent three nights there. And on !7th I got into a train to Guwahati and gence concluded my bicycle tour.

A Few Things About Manipur
It’s the land of Green mountains and plain farms with very fertile soil.
Meetai, Naga, and kuki are the major couunities with few outsiders.
UNLF/ MPA United National Liberation Front / Manipur Peoples Army. KNA Kuki National Army, PREPAK Peoples’ revolutionary Party ok Kangleipak, KIA Kachin Independent Army NSCN IM and several others are the groups fighting for Independence in the region.
People are fed up with the violent and tense atmosphere.
Meetai / Manipuri has a great historical and cultural baground and language is very rich.