Dissent and Torture

                                   Photograph@Arijit Sen -All Rights Reserved


Irom Sharmila, 42, a woman with unkempt black hair and a disarming smile, has long advocated for the repeal of India's Armed Forces ( Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, which gives the Indian Army legal immunity for its various brutal actions. She has been arrested again and again since starting a hunger strike in November 2000. "I have spent 14 years of my life chewing my tongue just for violence on all sides to end", she said.

My Report for US-based Women Under Siege Project

A Manipur morning

                                                        Photograph@Arijit Sen and Tomba--All Rights Reserved

Early morning at a village in the Tamenglong district of Manipur. December 2012. And then this in one corner (below)

                                                          Photograph@Arijit Sen -All Rights Reserved

And this in another (below)

                                                          Photograph@Arijit Sen -All Rights Reserved

Survival moves

                                                           Photograph@Arijit Sen -All Rights Reserved

After Jorhat we travelled to Imphal, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. The state has 42, 116 people who are HIV+. Manipur is quite close to Burma. The porous border with Burma and proximity to the infamous Golden Triangle drug route ensures drugs are easily available in Manipur. Add to that a life stifled under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Many intravenous drug users in Manipur struggle to survive in this state. Leading the battle for survival is the Manipur Network of Positive People. Formed in 1997, currently it has 2000 members who are countering fear, ignorance, social stigma and helping build a community based organisation. It is not an easy job to say the least. We had visited MNP+ in 2007. When we were there in December 2012, it was our second visit after five years.

A Burning Lake

                                             Photograph@Arijit Sen and Tomba--All Rights Reserved

From 1984 development promises have engulfed Loktak lake in Manipur--one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. First came a hydel project and now the government wants to evict fisherfolk to save the lake. Photograph taken by Tomba on location during the filming in November 2012. A short Loktake Video Report 

Madness and a road project

                                                               Photograph@Arijit Sen and Tomba--All Rights Reserved


I was travelling in the Tousem subdivision of Tamenglong district of Manipur. A young and probably mad IAS officer has decided to involve his community and build a road that connects people of the Zeliangrong community and gets them closer. That was our story. This photograph was clicked in the remote Phoklong village in Tousem. The village elders from the Zemi Naga tribe were eagerly waiting for us, the visitors.

                                                               Photograph@Arijit Sen -All Rights Reserved

On the reporting road

                                                      Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

Back in Northeast bureau and back to travelling and reporting. This photograph was taken in Manipur by my friend Tomba. With me in this photo is Mukut, Sunzu and Taton. Link to the election report. Manipur: The Angry State

Back to Imphal

Photograph@Arijit Sen/Tomba/CNN-IBN shoot--All Rights Reserved

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

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

Waiting for Jesus

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

Think it was Fathers' Day celebration that Sunday

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

Those who braved the rain and reached for Sunday church

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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

Trapped In Time?

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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.

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

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.

Photograph@Arijit Sen/CNN-IBN shoot/Tomba--All Rights Reserved

"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.

Photograph@Arijit Sen--All Rights Reserved

Manipur

In Manipur, education is under lock and key. Not one single official class has been held in this Indian state for the last 4 months. Schools, colleges and universities have been shut officially. Watch VIDEO.

Student bodies want justice in the alleged fake encounter killings that took place on July 23 in Imphal and the Chief Minister to resign.(post on encounter) Hence the call for boycott. Such is the law and order breakdown in the state, parents are afraid to send students to schools. Schools are apprehensive of attacks by boycott supporters. The state government is not able to provide security, probably couldn't care less. Most ministers have their sons, daughters studying in expensive boarding schools in other states. The Indian education minister has not issued a single statement. He would probably say that this problem does not fall under his jurisdiction. The Indian Home Minister is mostly busy in meetings and talking to TV reporters (trying to bring law and order under control). The photograph was taken in Manipur this August.

Manipur II

Manipur

On July 23rd, 27 year-old Chungkham Sanjit and 23 year old Rabina Devi, seven months pregnant was allegedly shot dead by the Manipur Police Commandos. After two months, the two deaths are still caught in the cycle of enquiries and protests. Manipur, today, presents a picture of extremes. The state has over 30 militant outfits and is under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, that was imposed in the state in 1980. Caught between the army, paramilitary, police commandos and the underground outfits are the people of the state. No development, almost no water, no electricity, schools closed in protest and yet no one seems to care about Manipur.

Manipur II

More Manipur in older posts

Baseball Dreams

It's a baseball run that's crossing continents like never before. Almost unknown to the rest of India, Imphal has been nurturing baseball dreams for its 20 clubs and planning to build India's first baseball park. At the forefront is First Pitch, the US Manipur Baseball project started in 2002. They are getting top American coaches and major league players to perfect the pitch and pass on the mania. Bhanu Devi ( in picture) is one of the coaches who is travelling to New York this year. Her dream: To have players from Manipur play in Major League. In a cricket crazy nation, Manipur surely has stolen this run from the rest of India

With a World Champion

This is my moment of glory. I am with M C Mary Kom, Thrice World Champion, Women's Boxing, once runner up. A wonderful person and I had great fun doing the interview. The boxing pose, was her idea.

Corner of the Astro-Turf

Hockey shoot in Manipur.