Homie

Time to say good bye has come.
Dear Shillong,I'm leaving you in six days
Take away all my pride and false perception
Give me a chance to reclaim myself.

I want to see my mama and baba
I miss my sister's tantrums
My parents are waiting for me
So do my sister and cute little cousins

I am deprived of my home's sweetness
Living in a virtually simulated room
With useless laptop,tab and phone
I am so deprived of the mud wall

I am leaving you as I leave Shillong
Dear Look Alike,we will meet again next year
But in a different manner.
You are free from my irri now.

I shall be playing in those green grass
With my childhood friends
I shall be riding on the dusty roads
They lead my way to here

I will be cooking with my mother
I will be painting my house with my father
I will be arguing with my sister
I just want to go home

My Uncle's Diary

This is a diary entry of my uncle who died in 2004.


"Khurumjari" , Rilung greeted the people who were there to welcome her. She came all the way from Hapoli to Guwahati and to Imphal on 26 february 1996. She stayed with Ibethoi at her home for three days. She came to my house at Nambol on 29 february. 1996 was a leap year.

Kago Rilung was doing MA in Manipur University during the early 90's. There were very few non manipuri students in MU at that time. She later completed PhD in Tribal Culture. She was a very bright student.

I taught her some meiteilon words so that she could impress my family elders. And she did just the same

My mother came out to welcome the guest. She didn't know Rilung was not a manipuri. So she started talking to her in Meiteilon. Even if she knew,she would talk in Meiteilon only. She was illiterate.

"Ibemma,nangdi kanano? Emung da changak udana"
Rilung was clueless. Ibethoi told her to enter. Ibethoi answered,"Ima,magi ming Rilung koubane. Eikhoi punna MU da tamminnarambani"

"Oww,ibemma,nangdi masak matou fajeida,rashi su yamna lei. Kadaidagino nangbo?"

Ibethoi again answered,"Ima,Arunachal dagi ne"

My mother asked,"Eh,adugi khun maming dudi amukfao tadri,masu wa khara ngang haludana. Se se Ibemma,ikaiganu"

Rilung said she was not a meitei but an apatani from Itanagar. Their family was from Hong Village(I haven't any idea) in Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. His father was a teacher in some School in Hapoli. But she lived in Itanagar.

Ibethoi interpreted her words. I was at Manggon(veranda)

My mother made food for her and Ibethoi. We all enjoyed the lunch. I went with them to Thiyam Pat. I rowed a boat and showed her the beauty of our lake. She left at around 4 pm.

In the following 15 days,she visited many Kuki villages. We met atleast seven times. I proposed to her to be my wife. But she didn't agree. I was very sad and totally broken. We had been together for 5 years and we love each other but she didn't accept me. She left Imphal on 17 march 1996.

I wrote her many letters to this address

Kago Rilung
Papuhappa P.O . Naharlagun
Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh Pin .791110

But there was no reply. After waiting 6 months,i finally fell down to my mother's proposal of marrying a Meitei girl

My marriage took place on 16 march 1997. I now have a daughter


On 9 may 1997,i got a letter from Rilung. She explained me why she didn't agree to the marriage. My mother made Ibethoi tell her that she had already looked a girl for me and it is our family's tradition to marry the girl who is accepted by the family. My brother,Achom Birsingh also died because of such inter community clash. My mother didn't want me to die in such clash as she thought there might be one. She begged of her.

My wife is from Thanga Heisnam Leikai,an Island of the great Loktak Lake. I now have a daughter. Her name is Yaifabi Achom. I am going to Itanagar after 6 years for a study on Tribal Life. I wil be visiting Hapoli and Hong Village and hope to visit the wetland farms where she enjoyed her childhood. I still love her,Manglembi khows it. She reckons mine is true love,my dear wife Manglembi.



Achom Ibobi Singh

11 October 2000

To My Troubled Friend

You think you are disturbing her. And she May think you are so mean. Whom would you blame,your brother,your parents or that doctor who told you to take rest. I think you should blame your good for nothing nose - so big yet so irritating. No,it's the season which you should blame. I know you have been absorbed by her. You can't stay even for an hour without her inside your almost 21 years old brain. Yeah,you were wrong for not keeping your word. You should not have told her that you would not text her anymore until she replies. Does she know you? Yes,she Does. Does she understand you? Yes she Does. But does she fully understand you? I don't think she Does. Then why you told her that. She doesn't know that you don't want to disturb her when she is doing study. Beastus told me he saw you crying yesterday. Richie also told me you cried again in the night . Oh man,what is the use of crying? I remember you telling me you won't cry again cause you are now a man,no more a boy. And why did you quarrell with your mother. I Understand you are in a great tension. But Don't you know she's the only one who loves you,who thinks for your best. Oh my dear Korou,you have been so open to her. You share everything with her ; your feelings,trouble,problem. You even asked her to inspire you so that you can read. I know you feel best when you share with her. It is as if you are having your best time. I feel you are pulling her in trouble by sharing your problem to her. And what happened to Thaja. Does she still text not or call you??? Why don't you just tell her you don't feel that way. (Even Likla also doesn't) Tell her you love Likla. Just go and tell and please be strong forever. I have been with you since childhood. Come on,we were even born in the same hospital. I understand you better than anyone else does. I am hopeful you will make Likla know that you are not searching for a relationship but for a friendship full of understanding,love and trust. And let her know the one she considers so close to her makes fun of her sometimes. Whatever it is,don't be mean. study well and top the class. She's one of the best girls out there in you university. Try to make her happy. Good luck. Don't quarrel with your mother. Don't make that girl feel irritated and please throw away your ego,if you have. PS: Be strong and true. I know you need me,Korou. i will be coming soon in your place.

SOMETHING NOT IMPORTANT

Likla always bears a charming smile on her face. When she sits , her head rests on her hands and her eyes look glossy from her staring. You can never really tell what she's looking at because her stare seems almost full of imagination. Sometimes it seems thoughtless too. Her mouth hangs slightly open but at times turns up in a small grin when she's frustrated. She has got nearly all sort of expressions. You wonder what she thinks about. Does she think about you? You doubt it. Does she think about him? Sometimes,you're sure of it. She is thinking about Chinglen. Many a time,her actions confuse you. Sometimes she spends the whole day talking, laughing, joking, smiling, hanging with you. Then the next day she hardly says a word. Has she ever seen you the way you see her? You know she hasn't. Will she ever see you the way you see her? You know she won't. She's of the same age as your sister. You know it. In a way,she's like your sister. She doesn't want to "ruin your friendship." It's a nice phrase .It would've been easier if she had just said that. It would have been less confusing; less complex. At least then you would know where you stand. At least then you would have known her in no time. And then there's the other one,the you told me who liked you. Your annoying friend who won't leave you alone because of her feelings for you. You want to give Thaja the same speech you received from Likla ; saying the same line. "I just don't want to ruin our friendship." You are aware the truth is you really couldn't care less. The truth is she wasn't the one who was supposed to like you anyway. It wasn't supposed to be her. But who are you to be so sure of it?. You're not even sure if it was supposed to be Likla. All you know is that either way no friendships will be ruined but the little voice inthe back of your head is screaming again. It's telling you that they may not be ruined but they'll never be the same again. You look at Thaja sitting in front of you. She told you yesterday how she felt and now it's weird. You hope she would just leave you alone. You find yourself avoiding her, one of your friends. You find yourself wishing she just wouldn't talk to you. Her annoyingness hasn't just crossed the line; it jumped over the thing. She's not being annoying to be funny or to get a laugh out of you like she usually does. It's amazing how things can change in twenty four hours. She being annoying now because she wants to get your attention. But your attention happens to be elsewhere. But mind you,Likla must also be finding you so irritating. You pass Likla in the hallway and whispers hi. All she does is nod her head a little and wave. So many hours have passed since yesterday afternoon but she still hasn't left your head. Today you're afraid that if you open your mouth you'll share your true feelings,making her irritated again. She doesn't even know you love her as much as you love yourself. She only knows you have a teeny tiny crush on her. Imagine her surprise if she finds out that you really and true love her. That's an automatic ruined friendship. What's the point in having friends if all you care about is ruining the friendships? I suppose that's all one can care about whenever you have an unwelcome crush on your best friend's friend and one of your friends just happens to have an unwelcome crush on you. And right now unwelcome crushes are all you seems to care about. Give yourself a passing smile, an annoying pat on the back, and two simple sentences,"I just don't want to ruin our friendship. I can love Likla as a friend and allow Thaja to love me as a friend" PS: This article is dedicated to one of my best friends here who is in a big confusion

I saw Churchill,Sadam,Bush and Bob Marley

Winston Churchill was enjoying a plate of pork chow at "Talk of the Town",BT Road. Saddam Hussein and George Bush were also there at a table sharing a plate of Singju. Winston Churchill said to Sadam Hussein,"Boy,battles are won by slaughter and maneuver." Saddam was sad already,nodded and then said,"Yes,you're right. Bush slaughtered me and look,now he has my oil" Bush argued,"Look Mohammed, I ain't he President nomore. Barack Obama has your oil. Don't frame me in it." Sitting at a table near the corner, Bob Marley filled his "kangkar" with ganja and pacified both,"don't worry brothers,he's a buffalo soldier. Listen to my songs and smoke weed. It cures even constipation."

Someone's Mother

She is a 60's generation
She was born in rags
Out of her father's endless pegs
On a night without consideration

She grew up in the 70-80's
She had been witness to her father's attrocities
She knew what poverty is
So she hated being rich

She met a man 10 years later
They fell in lover with each other
The man's parent's asked her hand
To live together till the end

Her parents agreed to the marriage
And hence she married him
Keeping intact her family's heritage
Only to spend her life on her in laws' whim

During that time of her life
She concieved her first child
Mother in law treated her so wild
She couldn't thrive

She and her husband were outcasted
Never to be with her in laws in future
Both felt so devasted
Because they had nowhere to go further

She gave birth to a baby boy in december
It was in 1990 , 7 months after
Then she had a big future
And her baby to be nurtured

She was again hit by poverty
She used to love being poor
But this time she was in a sovereignty
With not a drop of milk to pour

She worked hard
She dared living things
She even had warts
She raised on par with everything

She gave birth to a baby girl in august
Her husband is now a governmemt employee
She is now welcomed by the family
Without any disgust

Her children went to Herbert School
She wanted them to get best education
so that they couldn't be fooled
at other's pretention

She had been a girl
She had been a woman
She had been a in whirl
She had been framed

Now she enjoys her life
In merriment utmost
She is an example so prime
Who faced the attrocities of in laws

Being a Moirang and Democratic

Most of us believe in myth and legend. There is a myth that envelopes the Moirang Sagei. Moirangs are forbidden to catch or eat a particular bird,"Sendrang". Legend says if a member of Moirang Sagei does what is forbidden,he will develop ulcers on his mouth. As I belong to it,I was made aware of it when I was a child many years ago.

There was a drizzle today (Mets had already forcasted monsoon is likely to arrive today). After about an hour it stopped. I could see a Sendrang (Sparrow) playing at the yard. She (I presumed) was so beautiful that I wanted her to be my pet bird. But being a Moirang,I didn't try to capture her , instead watched playfully how she danced on her tiny legs with her feathers so glossy

My uncle gave me a ripe Champra (lime;a kind of citrus fruit) few days ago and reminded me to have a sip of "Champra Mahi" made by mixing lime juice with water,a tincture of "Meitei Thum"(Plate like baked salt" and ground "Meitei Morok"(pepper/chilli). It was so tasty a juice that i asked him for more lime. He gave me five of them and also "Hawaijar"(fermented soya bean) and "Soibum"(fermented bamboo shoot) as he knew i liked them a lot. I requested mama to make "Chagempomba" and "Soijin eromba" - my most favourite dishes. I ate them and as a rule i fell ill with fever and chills.

Owing to this,I now consider Champra,Hawaijar and Soibum merciless. I have listed them as "Ungrateful" food items. However it is very imminent to develop fever if any one of them is consumed. I am actually baffled thinking why they are still available as food items when they cause illness. It may be because they are endemic to us or should i say indigenous. to the Meiteis and related communities. It won't be wrong to say they are "Innocent Evils"

There was a girl one of my friends frequently talked of. He said she was from Soibam Leikai. She was beautiful,loving and caring. He reckoned she was actually over beautiful,hyper loving but least caring . She had a queue of boys who wanted to be with her , at least for a night. She also allowed them to sleep with her at hotels. The boys were always satisfied but never knew they were committing the biggest mistake of their life. They are now just dead bodies with living souls

I think if they could percieve themselves as Moirangs and her as a Sparrow,they would never sleep with her although they have the strongest of the strong urge. Contrary to what i think,they thought of her as Champra,Hawaijar or Soibum. They tasted her flesh in the form of "Champra Mahi","Chagempomba" or "Soibum Eromba" and now they are compensating with a life consuming disease. But who cares,they slept because they wanted to. Aren't we living in a democracy; "a no - one - cares - anything" kind of place.

IndiGo waits for me

One more wall has been faced. I actually waited with anticipation for the wall to come. Despite much speculation i couldn't clear it for the third time in a row,a hattrick of failure. It means I've got yet another opportunity to fly in an IndiGo Airbus A320 to Guwahati followed by a four hour taxi drive to Shillong. Although it seems adventurous,it is not even an inch closer to being so. In such a case,an over worried and hyper stressed brain controls the function and it is of no good whatsoever. Anyone can guess how it can be



PS: Photo was captured on july 23 , 2010 at Imphal Airport on a Nokia 5220

Unrated Thoughts and Life

My avidity to write poems and article has been a help when i want to yell out,and yell out through my poems. I had never been so much into this poetry thing before. Kind of a lust of poetry has developed in me,inside my heart. I only wrote few lines of my thought when i was a kid.

Actually,the basis of my writings is my family and the troubled relations i've had with close ones,doesn't particularly mean girlfriends or sweethearts. I'm very much a reserve lad and i keep everything inside my tiny virtual closet,which never really exists.

There has been so many turn arounds in such a short period of two and a half years. I've been encouraged to take up a plan and then discouraged in the middle of execution. More to that,i've been humiliated in front of everyone only to be embraced later. I've been into a lot of embarashment lately.

How could a person be happy if his dreams of becoming a "Man" is not fulfilled after so many attempts? You get ripped off mentally sooner or later. But that's compulsory. Sometimes i feel i should just ignore everything and put a stop to my life. But at the next moment,my mama's care,father's love and sister's tantrums on me would flash in the mind and i couldn't proceed further.