Month: June 2023

By James Khangenbam, 29/06/2023 Imphal:

Steve Fabes is a doctor by profession. He started out in 2010 with his cycle to travel six continents. He is in his sixth Continent Asia now. He thought it might take five or six years of his life in completing his mission and he is realizing it day by day. By the time of filing this story he has already accomplish his mission. Belinda is the name he gave to his cycle.
My cycle is a tour cycle built strong to last for long time. It is a Dutch company.  I carry along a tent, sleeping bag, cooking materials, clothes, medicines, books and tools to repair my bicycle narrated Steve.

Way to Manipur

“It was a nice ride from Myanmar to Manipur. The roads were lovely.
To encourage kids to use bicycle which I enjoyed doing was good. I spent a magnificent time in Imphal meeting with lovely kids at Maria Montessori School Koirengei where I spoke to students from 6th standard to 12th Standard in two shifts and told them my story with photo and video I make during my tour. Also answer to small queries children asked me from their inquisitive mind. Pedal attack team had helped me a lot during my four days stay in Imphal they have shown me couple of places and they are very enthusiastic cyclists. My happiest moment in Imphal is spent along with them and they are marvelous”, expressed Steve Fabes.

Why cycle around the world

“I had a job I really enjoyed, I had a salary. I have my family and friends around, I have a very comfortable life, why would I leave all that to go and live on 10 dollars a day counting by the road. To find more difficult life, it was not an easy decision but in the end I decided to go for it because I really wanted an adventure, new challenge.

I kind of feel fit and healthy by travelling around the world and to learn about the world as well. These are the few things that inspired me to leave. I do not want to get any regrets as well. I have this idea of travelling around the world and I just have to get through came in my mind”, continued SteveFabes.

“ What is good about travelling by bicycle is you get lots closure to the nature, you feel part of the landscape. The other thing I love about bicycle travel is it moves slowly so you got to meet people. If you want to learn about other country it is the best way to travel as people see me. People ask me question, sometimes they offer me hospitality, and sometimes they offer me food. It is very good way to travel, for me it is best to travel. I love challenge and sense of adventure. I do not see a car for three or four days. I have crossed mountain which is 5200 meter above sea level. I came across many spectacular places to ride.

I use to write my dairy on a daily basis. After my journey when I reach home I will write a book on my travel, people and places I came across. I will resume my work but would prefer a part time as I would spend most of the time in writing the book” says a confidently spoken Steve.

Life is full of joy

“To me an adventure is something that pushes you to overcome difficulty, it is a new thing you try.

The toughest thing is kind of mental challenge not meeting familiar people for long time while I cycle for years.

In school I was not an athlete. In cycling around the world you do not have to have extra skill you need to persevere.

In the middle of my journey I ran out of money after three years when I was in Mexico. I use to write for magazine during my tour to earn.

Now there is crowd funding for my tour”, informed Steve.

What makes a day?

“Morning is the time when you have lots of time to think but I do not need any distracting so I rise early and start riding. Most difficult time in a day is post lunch when you feel tired. I listen some music during this time. In the evening I try to find a place to camp somewhere to sleep”, expressed Steve.

Why I have been doing that

Steve happens to cycle across the salt plate in Bolivia in full moon along with his friend Nicky. It is the world largest salt plates stretching 100 miles which could be seen from space. His love for adventure was reciprocated and growing in the ride.

“On 15 Jan, 2010 I cycle off and suddenly it appeared impossible. I stop by a park for four hours. Thoughts came in my mind as what was I doing, wondering what I was going to tell people, I have told everyone I am cycling for five years.  I realize I had no choice.

I just got back on my back and started cycling. I decided I would just take one day at a time I would not try to think about five or six years that was terrifying. I just break it down into small times and think about where I am now and the next place and by doing that I figure I get around the world.

I started from London cycle across Europe in cold winter and east side of Africa cross to south of America, Northern Alaska and could not cycle further north. Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and so on. By the time I reach Manipur, I have crossed 52 different countries and covered a distance which is one and half times around the world. I have recorded 65,000 kilometer ride on my cycle. Next year I am cycling back home for a cup of tea”, smiled through Steve.
 

Around the World in a cycle, Steve Fabes an England citizen passes through Manipur Read More

By James Khangenbam, 29/06/2023 Imphal :

“The dance form calms down our daily thinking, our daily consciousness. When we calm down our daily consciousness our body and mind became one. Mind, body and spirit transformation takes place. It could be in silence you can do with preferred music too”, says Agu Tara the facilitator of Butoh Dance when she was conducting workshop in Manipur
“I listen to the resonance of the tree and I sink into the resonance and I become the tree and I forget that I am a human. If you listen to the resonance you will dance all time and your source of movement is by listening to the resonance.

The Butoh workshop in Manipur at SACH was all about learning technique to enter into the door. Learning to feel subtle energy. Hugging a tree to feel the intensity of the heat, texture and smell. Same goes with rock. We were given experiential knowledge not textual. If I want to feel the resonance of the tree we stay with the tree, stand and feel the wind blow. Smell, touches the water, even human to human. Human have sound, smell, heat, intensity. There are innumerable materials you just have to open yourself to listen into that resonance it is a practice to open up”, says Thiyam Chaoba a participant who is a film maker and a meditation practitioner.

Agu Tara – the 35 year old facilitator of Butoh dance was trained in the art form at Subbody Butoh Foundation, Dharamsala, H.P. She has been practicing for the last three years and hosted the 1st International Butoh festival in New Delhi. She came down to Manipur through Surjit Nongmeikakpam, a reknowned contemporary dancer and introduced the Japanese originated dance form in Manipur.

Butoh is said to have originated after the Second World War in Japan. Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno are the known legends. It appeared as a reaction against the contemporary dance scene in Japan, which Hijikata felt was based on imitating the West & restricted to self –expression only. Also, witnessing & resonating strongly with the before- after war conditions in Japan & losing his sister, (who served as a prostitute in the war) is believed to give birth to Butoh.  Kazuo Ohno also fought in the war and lost many of his soldier friends. Both of them are legends; they introduced Butoh to the world.

At first, Butoh came about as revolution of the body. Hijikata researched constantly in the darkness of his body; hidden tendencies, hidden memories of childhood and resonated with weakened bodily conditions like that of leprosy existing around him.  He meditated for long and discovered that his dead sister was living inside him. This gave birth to weakened body butoh. Butoh differs from other movement art forms because it focuses on the weakness of the body rather than the strength.  

He danced her repeatedly. He also wrote two choreographic butoh scores ‘Quiet House’ and ‘Sick Dancing Princess.’  In ‘ Quiet House’ he danced his dead sister, however, he still felt bound by his independent trauma, by Self; and to go beyond this bind he wrote ‘Sick Dancing Princess’ but was not able to share his dance. He died young at the age of 57.

Over the years, Butoh has been interpreted and practiced differently all across the world.  Butoh is not self-expression. It is Dance of Life. It is ‘Art of Shisha’ ; where ‘Shisha’ are the spirits of the dead in Japanese.

‘Shisha transform their shapes quietly yet infinitely. It is not rare that they borrow the shapes of things on the earth with unexpected nonchalance.’

Therefore, a butoh dancer takes the form of spirit and opens infinite transformation, can become anything and everything very easily and nonchalantly.

Butoh dance which evolved in Japan after Second World War introduced in Manipur. Read More

By James Khangenbam, 28/06/23

From her childhood Kripali always aspired to be different from her peers. Career in Civil Services, Medical, Engineering was what most people aspired for while few opt Armed Forces.An adventurous mind and attitude to excel attracted her to the National Cadets Corps during her High School and College. She was molded into an individual capable of taking on the rigors of military life during her NCC days.

A bright, young and energetic woman with extreme dedication towards achievement can hold the top most positions with confidence in any profession; not leaving the armed forces is what Kripali always believed. Her dream came into reality when she was selected for the post of Assistant Commandant in the Indian Coast Guard.  She is the first women from the North East to hold the rank of an Assistant Commandant in the Indian Coast Guard. She joined the service on July 2010. Kripali got through the service after a direct interview for graduates conducted twice annually.

She is the daughter of Yambem Brajamohon Singh ( Retd. Headmaster, Govt. Ideal Blind School, Takyel)  and Thongam Geeta Devi ( Teacher, Govt. Ideal Blind School, Takyel) of Naoremthong Khumanthem Leikai near SAI Road, Imphal West.

The men and women in “WHITES” (Uniform) was a motivating factor for Kripali to join the service. The respect and the lifestyle they lead captured her thoughts and desire. She was confident to go through any probationary task to prove her suitability. Despite few questions from her parents and loved ones, she had already made up her mind and was ready to undertake the gruesome training.  

Today, she had proved her worth and going about her job as a women officer she wore a silent smile filled with pride which makes her feel that she is also a part of the big and happy family which she had dreamt of as a girl to join the service.
Indian Coast Guard is a branch of Indian Armed Forces that implements the maritime laws of India. According to her this service offer full of opportunities to prove male and ability of lady officers through perseverance, dedication and exciting activities along with welcome prospect of visiting different places in the country and abroad combine with excellent pay package with ample benefits.
 
Her Hobby – Painting, Playing Basketball and Netball, Trekking

Message to the aspiring lady officers

“When you know you can be par with men, when your environment is filled with corruption, when the country is rampant with child abuse and rape cases each day. It is high time that we come out from the cocoon of chaos and be part of the family of ‘WHITES’ (Uniform) to emancipate from the thought of subordination and this service to make your dreams come true”.
Her Message to all – “Hard work never kills anyone, thrive for the best and touch the sky”
 

Kripali Yambem – First Woman Assistant Commandant of NE in Indian Coast Guard Read More

Fifteen years back Ibomcha use to read Taiwan catalogue and magazine on Bamboo. One time president of All Manipur Entrepreneur Association Rishikumar gifted him the catalogue which was enriching. He kept on thinking of making Bamboo furniture but could not materialize. He recollected all his efforts and finally ventured into making Bamboo furniture.

By James Khangenbam, Imphal 28/06/2023

His bamboo products are seamless. In a chair he uses eight nuts in the bottom area and 4 nuts in the upper part. It could be exported in any part of the world as it is built for easy transportation and could be assembled with the nuts when the furniture reaches the destined place of export. In the round table furniture he uses three nuts down and three nuts at the upper part. The furniture are quite strong and many have bought from him since the last many years. 

Bamboo furniture

Chair, Table, Portable Mirror Stand, Tray, Mementoes, in a seamless set up. All of them are folding and could be dismantled. A Round table and three chair set took one week to complete.

He is working on his latest design a chess board with colour pattern originally from the   Bamboo texture arranged in 64 squares with an eight by eight grid.
He is searching for craftsman who can Bamboo design the 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns

Why Bamboo furniture

According to Khwairakpam Ibocha bamboo surface has shining property unlike woods. He is trying to make furniture like doors and window. He has successfully fixed two bamboo surfaces together to thicken the board as doors needs to be thick. If his work shed is more mechanized it will be more productive. It is half manual and half machine as of now.

In Countries like Thailand and China Bamboo work sheds are mechanize so they have same size and uniform products. Cost of a Bamboo Board imported from China and marketed in Kolkata cost Rs250 per square feet.
He is making bamboo hard boards with 2 inch: 2 inch thick bamboo boards joined together surface to surface. Thus a 4 inches thick bamboo board is ready to materialize in a grand and strong furniture.

He uses a Fevicol company glue Pur ‘to join the surfaces together.  Pur saves time. Earlier a normal Fevicol glue took five hours to stick two bamboo pieces together. In 20 degree Celsius temperature it stick in 60 min, 40 degree Celsius took half an hour. If fixed in 60 degree Celsius temp it can be done in 10 minutes.

Now I can stick two surfaces in 45 minutes with the new gum of Fevicol Company says Ibomcha who was working in his work shed when Manipur Times interacted him.

Bamboo treatment

Bamboo are harvested in mera’ season and dip in water for a month and dried in sun. This is indigenous method and time consuming.

Chemical treatment is modern as found in various newsletter. He uses boric acid and borex in the ratio of one times of boric acid and one and half borex. In 200 litres of water 500 ml Boric acid is added and 750 mg of Borex in 200 liters of water. After the two samples are mixed He dips the bamboo for three hours.

He innovated a method by making water mixture in a mobil drum and he uses steam bath method by boiling the mixture and treating with the steam. This is how he treats his Bamboo. It proves good as it takes away the water content in steam bath.  Thus the bamboo do not get shrink from the water content for a longer time.

So far Ibocha has officially trained 20 people under the sponsorship of Commerce and Industries Department Government of Manipur. The government sanctioned Rupees one lakh and ninety thousand for the training.

The man who innovates seamless Bamboo furniture Read More