Nongin, The State Bird

The State bird of Manipur Nongin is greatly endangered. Besides its rare occurrence they are facing the onslaught of the hunters and man made calamities. If an urgent step for their location and conservation is not taken up, they are certain to disappear.

The people of Manipur had the belief that eternal soul of an orphan unable to bear hunger and thrust had transformed itself into a bird to be known as Nong-in. In fact, this bird earned its name Nong-in because of its ability in predicting changes in weather conditions (Nong – meaning rain, in – meaning to follow: one knowing the rain/weather cycle). Admired by lyricist and naturalist of all ages, Nong-in is often described as the most talented lover of song, dance and moonlights. They spend the time by feeding and resting in pair-a phenomenon of ‘sunbathe’ continues hours together. When a sudden danger or change of weather is sensed, they crawl behind the rock-clefts with noisy calls. When a pair from a cleft-shelter starts calling, another pair nearby responds, and thus within a short period the whole air is filled with a chord of their calls. Trawlers take advantages of it for locating the presence of the bird.

Manipuri Boxer, Mary Kom

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna winner, Mary Kom with her twin sons.

Minimumweight Mangte Chungneijang Merykom (aka Mary Kom or MC Merykom) is from Kangathei Village, Moirang Lamkhai in rural Manipur, India. Her interest in boxing was inspired by the success of Manipuri male boxer Dingko Singh. She took to sports in an effort to provide some financial support to her family. "I was initially an all-round athlete, and 400-m and javelin were my pet events. When Dingko Singh returned from Bangkok (Asian Games) with a gold, I thought I should give it a try. Dingko's success triggered a revolution of sort in Manipur and surprisingly I found that I was not the only girl who was drawn into boxing," she said. In her first AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship in Scranton, USA in 2001, the 18-year-old Merykom had to settle for silver, losing to Hulya Sahin of Turkey by 13-5 in the 48-kg final after defeating Jamie Behl of Canada by 21-9 in the semi-final and Nadia Hockmi of Poland by RSCO-3 in the quarter-final. "She was leading in the first round but her opponent managed to score points in the final round," coach Anoop Kumar said of Merykom's performance in the final. Merykom works out five to six hours a day to stay fit. Coming from a poor family who struggled to educate her siblings, her success as a world champion is a testament to her determination, perseverance and drive to succeed. She has used her earnings from boxing to obtain a new house and land for her parents and savings deposits for her younger siblings but she bemoans the lack of sponsorship for Indian female boxers, saying "I guess that’s because I don’t play tennis or cricket. Seriously, are there no other sports in India?" She has said that she would eventually like to share her boxing experiences while grooming new sports talent in Manipur.

Sangai, The Dancing Deer

The Sangai or Manipur brown-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) a delicately beautiful animal found only in the hilly North East Indian State of Manipur, has already one let off. The name "sangai" is a local Meitei dialect. This particular sub-species of the Thiamin deer is also fondly called Manipur's dancing deer because of its delicate gait as it negotiates its way along the floating wetlands. Sangai is also known as Eld's deer as it was first described by Lt. Percy Eld in 1838, the name Cervus eldi eldi was given in honour of Lt. Eld in 1842. Sangai is one of the three subspecies found in South East Asia, the other two being found in upper and lower Burma & in parts of Thailand, Kampuchea and Vietnam. In 1951, the local administration reported that Sangai was extinct. Happily a half dozen were found 2 years later living on a vast island of floating biomass on Loktak Lake, the 2nd biggest lake in India, to the South East of Manipur's State Capital, Imphal. Subsequent efforts to preserve the Sangai, a sub-species of Eld's deer, have been pretty successful. The floating island and the surrounding lake side were protected and declared a National Park in 1977, since then there has been negligible poaching.

Keibul Lamjao - The unique habitat of Sangai: The star attraction of this place is of course Sangai. Keibul Lamjao is famous not just because of brow antlered deer but it has added its value to fame; its other claim to fame is the fact that this is one of the very few floating protected areas in the world. Spreading an area of 40 sq/km Keibul Lamjao National park was established in the year 1966 as a sanctuary & in the year 1977 as a National Park. Loktak Lake (6,475 HA) the largest fresh water lake in India, a large portion of which falls within the park.

A Manipuri Woman

A Manipuri woman selling vegetables in a Market of Imphal City.

Manda Leima (Manipuri Actress)

Name: Manda Leima
Height: 5' 4
Date of Birth: 22nd March
Hair Color: Black
Hobbies: Gardening
Foods: Vegetarian
Address: Moirang
Film Works: Engengi Atiya, Angangba Kuraogi Mapal, Nanga Mama Oubiyu, Thengmangkhare Thabalse, Ayuki Likla, Enga Nonglakta, Lalibadi Eini (The Sky of Autum) Part 1 and 2. Kaboklei and Many More...

Because of Strict Security in town

Security forces and pressmen taking position outside the Gambhir Singh Arcade during a shootout in which a suspected militant and a pregnant woman were killed

Mother killed in front of son’s eyes

An elderly stranger taking care of the child, woman police officer covering the body and onlookers

IMPHAL, Jul 23 : A day out shopping with her three year old son turned out to be fatal, for a young woman, as she was killed in a broad day light shoot-out in the heart of Imphal town today, while a UG suspect was later killed in the shoot-out.Incidentally, the shoot-out occurred at about 10.30 am, barely 30 minutes before the commencement of the Assembly session, not far from the Assembly complex. Five other individuals also sustained bullet injuries, 2 of them critically.

Save Swallows

Villagers with the catch of Swallows and a boy with a net trap in a field

IMPHAL, Jul 22: In one of the rare and exemplary efforts toward conservation of the ecosystem, farmers in Khangabok Assembly, home constituency of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, have taken up the onus of protecting the dwindling population of Swallows, acknowledging these birds as friends of farmers, and keeping a close watch against catching or killing them.

During General Strike

People throng a Khwairamband Keithel area to purchase vegetables/goods inspite of the general strike call.

Won Cricket

A group of jubilant boys back home after winning a local cricket tournament held in the outskirts of Imphal.

Awarded by President of India

N Ibobi Singh (L) and Heramot receiving their SNA awards from the President of India, Pratibha Patil

Childhood!!

CHILDHOOD: A group of children playing in Iril river

Khuga Canal Breaches

Water flowing from the breached embankment flooding a paddy field and a caved in portion

Bridge cost of about Rs 30 Lakhs

The wooden bridge at Yairipok-Chandrakhong area estimated at a cost of about Rs 30 lakhs

Traditional Music

An artist playing a musical instrument made of Bamboo

Traditional Music

A woman presenting Khongjom Parba during the Festival of Traditional Music of Manipur

PULF Chairman of the Azad Faction

Chairman of the Azad faction of PULF Md Anis being brought to Imphal at Tulihal after his arrest at Bangalore by a joint team of IE cops and B’lore police

UG Leader Caught!!

KCP leader KK Nganba at Imphal Airport. He was arrested in Delhi some months back.