On a train to North Cachar

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

After Nagaland was in Delhi for a while. And then travelled to North Cachar in the hill district of Assam. What a fascinating train journey in the metre gauge line! More on the journey and North Cachar in the next posts.

Inside Nagaland

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We took National Highway-39 and crossed Senapati district. Crossed Mao Gate. Reached Kohima. From Kohima travelled inside Nagaland to meet Thuingaleng Muivah in Pughoboto for a long interview. In this photograph my cameraman with Muivah after the interview.

Back to Imphal

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We got back to Imphal. Met people from the valley. Most of them disgusted with this economic blockade ( which was on then) and also with New Delhi. Here we are talking to Rajkumar Ranendrajit.

Somdal

In Somdal in the hill district of Manipur, we met a lot of people. Some still waiting for Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his home. This is the road just outside the village

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Waiting for Jesus

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Noticed this is in Ukhrul. In fact in a lot of other places as well.

From Ukhrul we travelled to Somdal, then travelled back to Imphal. From there to Senapati district of Manipur and then to Kohima. This is the news documentary we did on the 68 day Manipur blockade.

Towards Somdal

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We travelled to Somdal, a village in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. It's also the birthplace of NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah. Rains and more rains on the way

Ukhrul

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Think it was Fathers' Day celebration that Sunday

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Those who braved the rain and reached for Sunday church

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June rains in Ukhrul, when we reached. Am told the weather is like this through the year.

Trapped In Time?

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Travelled to Ukhrul, the hill district of Manipur. Met people who had imposed the economic blockade along National Highways. Underdeveloped and cut off from the rest of the nation, Ukhrul, almost, stays trapped in time. Pretty much like these posters in the town.

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And what we have seen so many times in different corners of Northeast India. On a Sunday, it is time for church ( in this case, braving the June rain and the June cold).

Manipur: June 18

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Back from Calcutta to Assam and then headed straight to Imphal. Reached on June 18 in Manipur--a day observed as Martyr's Day. When we reached Imphal, it was still battling the effects of the 68-day blockade by Naga outfits. And at the time of the economic blockade the gathering of people in Imphal for June 18, was a reminder how clash of communities and identities can go out of hand, destroy lives and divide people, like it did in 2001. On June 18, 2001, 18 people died in the clash between central forces and a mob protesting the extension of ceasefire with the NSCN-IM to Naga areas in Manipur.

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"The day is being observed when Manipur is again in turmoil on account of the fear of losing the territorial boundaries of Manipur to NSCN-IM in their hope of greater Nagalim to the utter neglect of the people of Manipur," Professor Sadanand, of the Senior Citizens Forum told us.

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Indifferent Industry

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I was in Calcutta in June. Went to report on the civic elections. Then stayed back for a week as help was needed in the CNN-IBN Calcutta bureau. From elections to the beginning of the football World Cup, to the updates of a train derailment it was interesting to report from the city. But one report that will stay with me is the one on sick industries in Bengal. During my stay in the city, Railway Wagon maker Burn Standard got Rs 1,000 crore loan writen off from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Burn Standard had turned sick 16 years ago. Both the Left and Trinamool claimed credit. We travelled inside Burn Standard in Howrah. The spectacle that is a combination of politics, trade union, neglect that has killed industry in Bengal was evident. Even with the loans written off, the future seems trapped in all these.

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That is Swapan Roy, one of the oldest employees at Burn Standard. For him the celebrations had little or no meaning--at least that's what I felt. "Today, I am remembering my co-workers many of whom had no other option but to jump from the sinking ship in despair. Just 500 of us stayed back". With elections round the corner, there is a newfound love of industry in Bengal. But for West Bengal to come out of an industrial coma will require more than promises and votebank politics.