The world at your feet

There is this feeling of being one of those ‘privileged ones’ to scan news and information from around the world — the most exciting phase is the picture scans.

I wondered how different newspapers would carry AFP’s story on Mugabe: Only God can unseat me, and the story on Russian girls’ common envy/hate for Maria Sharapova after her Wimbledon second round loss. Ha, this picture is up for grabs tomorrow; ha, these stories would surely make it into that page.

You just can’t help smile when some of your predictions come right as you flip over the papers the next day.

While the attention-seeking TV channels catch the viewers with the perennial BREAKING NEWS flash only to be belied after the commercial break that the story is about an attempted slap on an actress.

Laugh Out Loud

Lets hope and see how things evolve with our handsets would becoming an essential phonomenon. There would be more equality on the news dispersion i thought. Less exclusivity.

Imagine a press release being SMSed to your mobile.

Advertisers would just have to sms in a junk inbox. News could be packaged depending on your own liking.

All said and done, we will continue to ‘retell’ the feeds.

Two towers stand in a village that may first seem to a stranger the landmarks of the quiet place but they are memorials of two love legend standing in posterity.

Folktales abound among the tribals here but this story has stood the test of time and it has been the inspiration for many lovers and littérateurs.

20 kilometers from Mokokchung district town of Nagaland, Mopungchuket village — where the two lovers Jina and and his beloved Itiben lived– has now become one of most frequented tourist attraction in this northeastern state of Nagaland.

With growing popularity of the tale especially among the Ao tribe — one of the major tribe in Nagaland—the lovers’ story is also dubbed as Nagaland’s Romeo and Juliet.

Memorabilia

Unending breeze greets the tourists after the pleasant ride up to the vi1llage. There is a museum that exhibits memorabilia and books not only of the lovers but also important materials of cultural and historical importance.

The caretaker of the museum said of the increasing tourist flow, “After the state government initiative in developing this village as a hot spot, tourists not only from India, but also from far-off countries like Australia have come this season.”

There is a lake and a lawn nearby where one can find majestic sculptures carved in wood depicting the two legendary lovers besides others.

“The sculptures are majestic and craftsmanship very authentic,” said one Imkongsunep, one of the tourists, as he admired one of the many sculptures that on the lawns.

Telltale signs and the romance

Many people claim this tale as real legends.

According to the story, the lovers traversed many mountains and villages as their romance bloomed. Some villages even have footprints and telltale clues and marks that testify that the lovers really existed.

All the ingredients of a classic Shakespearean work are there in this tale—from pure lyrical flow to the drama and romance that ends tragically.

The love story is laced with a lot of lyrical element that even in school there is a special teacher to teach this paper which is prescribed as one of the mother tongue language paper.

Folklore boom

Mr. Nukshi, a school teacher who teaches Jina and Itiben talks about the scope and entertainment folk stories from the northeast can provide says, “there are many folktales that can be compiled properly with research that can instantly be a big hit even in a film industry”

A PHD scholar in folklore from JNU, Mr Walunir says, “In the northeast, there are folklore centers in Guwahati and Shillong, but more academic books needs to be compiled and developed”.

But for now, lovers and people alike seem to be keen on drawing parallels to the famous couple whose love could not be consummated till the end.

Folklore and tradition are part of any tribal heritage but this legendary romance Jina and Itiben, stands tall among all and continues to enthrall for many generations.

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Other photo: Other wooden sculpture crafted from a single log by a local craftsman..

But let me not forget and congratulate the lively season Manchester United provided us with pure entertainment. Fergusson’s team deserved to win this season.

There are some changes i propose for the next season.

1. Dump Peter Crouch
2. Try to bring in two young winger
3. Bring in a young goalkeeper
4. Chuck out Risse
5. Dirk Kuyt should be asked to go

Liverpool has the best midfield combination i’ve ever seen. With some more fresh legs, they should be a serious contender for both big titles.

Politics should stop now for people are dying. Words like, “we want to give aid but they are not accepting it...we will only accept from this country...etc” should now die down.

People are dying in the swamps, dying without proper drinking water and medical supplies. There are lots more to be done in trickling down essential supplies.

Mynamar leaders should admit this is not the time to distinctify aid sources while around two millions are suffering, scrambling for food and attention.

The most foolish regretable steps has been the referendum undertaken amid this cylone chaos. While it can only add to the tightening grip of the junta, Myanmarese face a prolonged battle to rebuild what little shelter they had before.

Breaking national identity

A beginning always provokes a cautious response and we will get to see how the first season unfolds. It will be interesting to see if we indentify the players through their clubs like many avid fans in the English premiership or the Spanish Liga do. How knew the talent Edwardo before he started playing for Arsenal club. Or that of Torres, now synonimous with Liverpool.

With India as the assembling ground for different national players, let the curtains go up as we witness some historic changes in Cricket’s history.

Meren