Go and catch a falling star: My appreciation

Go and catch a falling star: My appreciation

BY JOHN DONNE (1572-1631)

Go and catch a falling star,

    Get with child a mandrake root,

Tell me where all past years are,

    Or who cleft the devil's foot,

Teach me to hear mermaids singing,

Or to keep off envy's stinging,

            And find

            What wind

Serves to advance an honest mind.

If thou be'st born to strange sights,

    Things invisible to see,

Ride ten thousand days and nights,

    Till age snow white hairs on thee,

Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,

All strange wonders that befell thee,

            And swear,

            No where

Lives a woman true, and fair.

If thou find'st one, let me know,

    Such a pilgrimage were sweet;

Yet do not, I would not go,

    Though at next door we might meet;

Though she were true, when you met her,

And last, till you write your letter,

            Yet she

            Will be

False, ere I come, to two, or three.

This poem by John Donne, a Metaphysical poet, is perhaps the first English poem I appreciate on my first reading. I read it for the first time in my college days. It was included in our course. At that time I was not familiar with the Metaphysical poets. Neither was I familiar with the style and characteristics of the so-called Metaphysical poets. However, I love the poet’s direct and straightforward exposition of his disbelief in the existence of a woman with an honest mind. Might be I have experienced or I would later experience what the poet has experienced, I unhesitatingly agree/d with the idea of the poet.  In a word, the poet’s main idea is that it is difficult or rather impossible to find a woman with an honest mind.

Addressing a silent listener, as in Dramatic Monologue, the poem may be called so, the poet tells the latter to go and catch a falling star which is impossible for a normal human being. He also commands his friend to get with a child a mandrake root, which is used for medicinal purpose, again an impossible task for a child. A child will not be able to differentiate which is and which is not a medicinal plant. Next the poet asks his friend to tell him where all the past years are or who cleft the devil’s feet, again impossible for any person, if he is not a superhuman.  Then he asks his friend to teach him mermaid’s singing, which is again an impossible task, if the person is not a mermaid himself. The poet further asks his friend to teach him how to keep off envy’s stinging, which again is impossible, because no one as a human being would be able to do away with an inherent nature of his being, here, envy. The last part of the first part of the poem seems to be an affirmative statement rather than an argumentative question. The poet tells his friend to find whether at all any wind advances an honest mind. In other words, it is impossible to find an honest mind just like the tasks listed out are all impossible to accomplish.

In the second part of the poem, the poet put forwards his idea with another argument. Here the poet tells his friend that by chance there may be a woman with an honest mind just like he (his friend) may be some an extraordinary person with superhuman power that he may be born to see strange sights, things invisible to see, and have the strength to ride ten thousand days and nights till his old age. Then, on his return from his journey the poet would willingly listen to all the marvels that he would have encountered during his long journey. But lo! The poet again declares with confidence that even his superhuman friend will not find a single woman who is both fair and true.

In the last part of the poem, the poet tells his friend that even if he has come across at least one fair and true woman, then he was fortunate enough. But quickly the poet says that the woman would not yet be an ideal one but only seeming and only on the face of it and maybe because of the shortness of time. To strengthen his argument, the poet tells his friend that he would not set out to meet that woman who seems to be honest even if he would meet her next door. The poet tells his friend that even if the woman was true when he met her and perhaps till the time he writes his letter to her.  Yet, the poet will not trust her because the woman would have lied to two or three persons already before he comes to meet her.

Shakespeare might have the same idea with John Donne when he says (in Hamlet) “Frailty, thy name is woman”.

Aw Kan Hmar Ram

‘Aw Kan Hmar Ram’ ti ding ei nei naw hi

Kei chu ka lunglai a na;

Mi'n ropui an rel an ram ngeiah

Eini chu ei leng run riengah.

Tiena Israel ei ieng ei tih

Tiemram chu van a ra?

Tak changlo ding duthusamin,

Ram ropui a min tlun di’m ?

Nga’n an tam an thipui

Mihriemin ei dampui;

Sienkhawm, Unau Suopui hmel ei hai

Ei chan reng hril a hai

Sakhming ziekdan identity

Pal ang thleng chu mawlna;

Chite sukhmawntu chu bangba,

A tawpah tluksietna. 

Hmar hnam I sukdam thei

Hmar tawng hmang la;

Hrietna, Varna sukpung la

Zamsan rawh mawl leia titna

Vankhuo’n a relsa am lo nih?

Hmarnau ar ang an vai lawina;

Chengrang am tha, ziekfung?

Phawi ka nuom a zung.

R.L. Muon Inbuon

7^th October 2014, Kolasib

Mi \awng khawm, ei \awng khawm thiem ei tiu

‘Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.’, Nissim Ezekiel (1924-2004), Anglo-Indian poet, a i ziek ka hang tiem nawn chu, exam ding ngaituo r^na tiem hunlai kha a liem ta bawka, a poem-in a tarlanghai khelah, inzawmna nei tho si, ngaituona dang a mi hung pek chu tie. Chu ngaituona chu ieng dang rak nilovin, ka lo ngaituo rawp hlak ei \awng-Hmar \awng- hmangdanah, a bikin Duhlian \awng (Mizo \awng ti a official-a hriet tah) le thiemkawp haiin ei hmang danah], felhlel ni-a ka hriethai chungchang thu a nih. Chuong ang ngaituona mi hung petu chu vawikhat hang tiem khawma hrietthiem thei nghal a nih. Hieng hin:

Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.


Friends,

our dear sister 

is departing for foreign 

in two three days,

and 

we are meeting today

to wish her bon voyage. 


You are all knowing, friends, 

What sweetness is in Miss Pushpa.

I don't mean only external sweetness 

but internal sweetness. 

Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling 

even for no reason but simply because 

she is feeling. 


Miss Pushpa is coming

from very high family. 

Her father was renowned advocate 

in Bulsar or Surat, 

I am not remembering now which place. 


Surat? Ah, yes,

once only I stayed in Surat

with family members

of my uncle's very old friend-

his wife was cooking nicely…

that was long time ago. 


Coming back to Miss Pushpa

she is most popular lady 

with men also and ladies also. 


Whenever I asked her to do anything,

she was saying, 'Just now only

I will do it.' That is showing

good spirit. I am always 

appreciating the good spirit. 


Pushpa Miss is never saying no.

Whatever I or anybody is asking

she is always saying yes,

and today she is going 

to improve her prospect 

and we are wishing her bon voyage.

Now I ask other speakers to speak

and afterwards Miss Pushpa

will do summing up. 

Hieng ang Indian English (Vai Sap\awng ti inla chieng mei a tih) hi vawisun chen khawm hin hriet ding le ngaitlak ding a la tam khawp el. Indian News Channel \henkhata politician-hai debate ei ngaitlak lem chun hriet ding a tam zuol. College kaihai khawma ei ruol-vaihai le ei inbiek hunah hriet ding tam bawk a tih. Present Simple tense hmangna dinga Present Progressive tense hmang tlat dam; Adjective thumal ‘foreign’, Noun anga hmang dam; Vai\awnga hril nisien chu indik si ding, sienkhawm hieng-two three days hang ti dam hi (entirnan-Ek do din me ho jayenge) Sap\awng hmangdan kalhmang ruok chu a ni der si nawh. Sap\awng kalhmanga chu ‘two or three days’ ti ding a nih. Conjunction ‘or’ hi a um ding a nih. ‘Just now I will do it’ ti khawm hi, ‘I will do it just now’ ti lem ding a nih. A tawi zawngin, hieng anga Sap\awng hmang a ni pha hin, Sap\awng kalhmang a hraw nawh a, Vai\awng kalhmang zuiin Vai\awng thumal aiah Sap\awng thumal inbukin a uma, chu chun Sap\awng nuizatum, apuopa a hung siemdawk a nih.  Hieng anga \awng palzut hlak mihai hin, \awngtinin umzie neia inremkhawm dan/rurel (organization/structure) an nei seng ti reng an hriet phak nawh. Hril sei dal ei tih, ei thupui petsan pal ei tih.  

|awng hmang indik kawngah, ei lamr$k d^n- an s^ng an hn<oi haiin umzie inth<ktak a nei zie, sienkhawm chuong chu iengah ei ngai nawzie chu hrillo, ei \awng ngei ei hmang pawl^wt zie hi, tulai Hmar social networking \awng takin ‘A Nasha’ ‘Ei Nasha’. Social networking zuk hril kai taka chun, ‘ninga tih’ tina dingah ’nieng  tih’, ‘ting ei tih’ tina dingah ‘tieng ei tih’ ti hai hin mit an sukkham thei hle. Punctuation hmang indik lem chu ‘Kaha se’ a ni ringawt el. An hrietsa-a an hmang indiknaw vel mei mei am ni ka sawn leh, thenkhat chun an lo hrietnaw tak tak a lo nih.

Ei thupuiah lut ei tih. Ka nakawra lo lut tah le cham zing hlak \henkhathai chu: ‘Ring a um nawh’ tina ding hmuna Duhlian \awng tl<ka ‘A ring um nawh’ ti dam; ‘programme a fe zing/ programme a fe lai zing a nih’ tina ding hmunah ‘programme a fe mek’ ti dam; ‘In l^n ding a ni?’ zuk ti a, Hmar \awng tl<k indik, a thumalin a hung fen el ding laiah, Duhlian \awng tl<k ^wna ‘I l>l^ng ding a ni? ti dam; ‘mi hung sir ro’ tina ding hmunah ‘mi hung tlaw ro ti dam’; ‘mi hung sir malam ro’ ti dingah ‘mi hung sir pa ro’ ti dam; ‘I (dawr thuomhnawhai/thilhai) i zawr thei am ie?’ tina ding hmunah ‘I’n zawr thei am?’ ti dam; ‘ka khatin ka thaw thei nawh’ tina ding hmunah ‘keiman ka thaw thei nawh’ ti hai hi an nih. Ka notebook-ah ka lo inchik pei naw leiin ka hrietdawk el thei talo tamtak a um.

‘A ring um nawh’ ti hi Duhlian \awng ‘A rin awm loh’ ti a inthawka hung suok a nih. Hmar \awng chun ‘Ring a um nawh’ ei ti hlak. ‘Programme a fe m>k’ ti khawm hi Duhlian \awng hmanghai ti dan hlak ‘Programme a kal mek’ ti anthawka lak a nih. ‘M>k’ ti thumal hi Hmar \awng le Duhlian \awngah a kawk a’n ang nawh.  Hmar \awnga chun ‘m>k’ ti thumal hi hieng hun/hmuna hai hin ei hmang deu tak hlak: ‘Programme an \an m>k, hung inhmaw deu ro’; ‘Bu an lo f^k m>k an tah, muong taluo naw ro’. ‘M>k’ ti hi ‘v>l chie’, ‘sawt la fe lo’, hrilna’n ei hmang hlak. Duhlian \awnga ruok chun, thil fe lai zing hrilna’n hmang hlak a nih (a hmangna dang khawm chu a um tho.) ‘I l>l^ng ding a ni? ti khawm hi ‘Duhlian \awnga an ti dan ‘I l>hl^ng dawn a mi/em ni? ti anthawka l^k a nih. Hmar \awng chun, ‘I’n l^n ding a ni?’ ei ti el hlak. ‘Mi hung sir pa ro’ ti lem hi chu nuizat a um; Duhlian \awng ‘Min rawn tlawh pah r’u’ ti anthawka l^k a nih. Hmar \awng chun ‘Mi hung sir malam ro’ a nel.  ‘I’n zawr thei am’ hang ti lem hi chu a kawk a dang ie. D^wr kan nei ve a, nu pakhatin ka nu kuomah ‘I’n zawr thei am’ a ti ka hriet hmasatak chun ka pang an za rak el. Duhlian \awnga ‘I inhralh thei em/ I inhralh thei bawk maw? an ti hlak anga, ieng uksak s> s> lova Hmar \awnga mi \henkhatin an lo inlet a nih.

|awngtinin thumal remkhawm dan/kalhmang an nei seng ei ti ta khah. Thumal tinhai chun k^wk le umzie an nei el cho ni lovin, sinthaw pawimaw tak an nei nawk pei a nih. |awng tl<k an siem/thunun a nih. Hnamkhat sunga hmel dang dang puthaiin \awng tl<k inang ei hmang theina san pakhat chu ei thumal hmanghai an ang lei a nih.

Ei thumal hmanghaiin nasataka ei \awng tl<k an thunun ang bawk khan, ei thumal hmanghaiin \awng pakhat hmang zing siin \awng tl<k in ang naw niei nuoi a min hmangtir thei a lo nih (in ang rawng chu thil thei an nawh). Hienghin hang hril sei met inla. Ei thumal hmanghai a’n ang naw chun, ei \awngtl<k inang naw’ng a ta, chulai karah ei i’nhnaipui unauhai \awng ei lakl<t zing bawk si chun, ei \awng in a hmab^k chu, ch$mrala um le \awng th$ (dead language) a inchang ni mei a tih.

Khawvel hmun tinah \awng le \awng inl^kpawl hi dang ruol an nawh. |awng hausaknaah a’n chang ph^ lem rawp hlak. Thawlo dinga inkhap chi khawm an nawh. Sienkhawm, m$ hnamzie/khawsakzie nuom p^wnga, a \ha a sie thlier lova lo l^k el, a \hatnaw ang bawkin, \awng thuah khawm hin fimkhur hle a \ha. |awng hausakna dinga, laklutna ding ^wmtaka lakl<t chu a \hat vieu laiin, \awng r<r>l le tl<k suksie thei ding khawpa ‘ei inhrietpaw tho annawm’ ti thum^wl changch^wia, mani \awng thumalhai hriet tumna nei der lova um ruok hi chu ‘m^wlna chikhat’ ti inla indik a tih.

Hun s^wttak mani hnam \awng hmang talohai le nu le pa’n an zir naw leia thiemlova lo seilien tahai, \hahnemngaitaka, hung hmang inch<k m>khai hi inp^k an um takzet. Hieng ang mihai hi, lo inch<ktira, keihruoi a, lampui indik kawkhmutu ding chu a lo thiemtasahai ni awm tak ei ni lai, chuongchu ni lova, Mizorama inp>ml<t t^k lei el dam, Vai\awng le Sap\awng hmang thiem lei el dam, Western Music ngaitl^k hlak lei el dama, mani \awng ei inthlada ruok hi chu a zie naw deu a nih. Ho mei meia ei ngai lai hin Hmar \awng hi la th$ng a ta, Hmar \awng a thi chun Hmar hnam hi dams^wt bik naw nih. Chuleiin, m$ \awng khawm thiem ei tiu, ei \awng khawm thiem ei tiu.

R. L. Muon Inbuon

Kolasib, 6^th Oct. 2014


(Hi ka article hi HSA Platinum Jubilee Souvenir a dingin ka contribute a insuo a nih. Editorial Board hai chungah ka lawm hle. )

We know but to forget
We live but to die
Life is futile

Nothing is impossible in the world

Nothing is really impossible in the world. It all depends on whether you really want to prove it true. In other words, it depends on whether you have the requisite ‘will power’ to achieve the goal you set for yourself. Once you have strong will power, know that you are on the right track. The will power or strong determination, without fail, urges one to take up the necessary tasks, even if sort of herculean task, to reach the goal.  Amidst hardships and misfortunes, one has to go on. Simply but true, we get whatever we really want. If things seem still impossible even if you try, then the reason may be you really do not want it.

Most often we succumbed to the fear of the fear that this or that ambition is too high for me to accomplish. Such fear, believe it, often than not, take us aback even before we begin to try. It is true till today that cowards die many times before their death. Thinking of the bulky books which are necessary to read while preparing for examinations only leads to priceless discouragement. It is always good to take up and read it rather than think about it and glaring at them. The English poet Ted Hughes has, in comparison, said that animals are quick to pick on their prey while human beings, on the other, lack that ‘kill power’. This is really true. We often complain saying that this or that dream of mine seems impossible. But it is worthwhile to think for a moment that it is our hesitation and slowness to fix on to our target where our complaint really begins.

On the contrary, they are those who muster the courage to overcome the fear of fear itself that always comes out the champion. The core reason for their triumph is often their very courage to attempt. The common replies given by successful persons in different fields, when asked upon, are often marked with their recollections on how they had stick to their target, how they have been consistent in their effort, their hard heartedness that had let them smile upon failures, which were all triggered by their very desire to achieve their dream.

It is true that we pursue what we desire. We find every possible ways to get the particular thing we desire most. We also dare to go on until the thing being pursued is reached or met. You can take an example of a young lover who doesn’t want his or her beloved to be in the lap of others, being crazy for youthful love. Like this, let your target or goal be the thing you desire most, firstly. There is no point in rejecting what you are crazy for. May sounds funny to mention but true that now-a-days even an illiterate quickly learn to handle a mobile phone with latest tech applications in just a few days.  Even one may also bother about how one could procure a smart phone no matter there is a problem for a weekly family ration. The simple answer of all such possibility is ‘desire’.      

In the mean time, money and laziness lets one argue against “nothing is impossible”. There are thousands who tell people that dream or ambition is to be had by all, but its accomplishment is another matter. Such people are often those who have succumbed to their fear of failure and never come out of it and now turned bitter (unknowingly maybe).  

Their simple and tempting suggestion is to grasp every immediate opportunity to get money with which, they think, everything can be bought. Such people are to be avoided because they themselves are the ones who are simply lazy. In other words, they have the courage to reach only halfway.  One should not bother about such lazy quasi-experts while on the way to turning things seeming impossible possible.   

Do not look for shortcuts but look for the right path and go along it. The moment you look for shortcuts, tell yourself that you lose your confidence. Shortcuts are there of course.  But wherever there is shortcut, the destination is also near.  Remember the proverb ‘Rome was not built in a day”. Don’t worry if it takes time- to reach your goal. It will, of course, take time, no escape from it.

Always remember that only one who stick to his goal and never turn back have proven and will continue to prove that nothing is impossible. It is also popular belief that regular physical exercise is good for health. Regularity and that too for a certain period of time, is necessary. Even fastening pieces of leather with an adhesive or glue takes time, isn’t it?

Saying “nothing is impossible” but not working for it will be an absurd idea. The ‘will’ to achieve a goal is always accompanied by hard-work. Consistent effort and regular exercises in relation to the goal is necessary to accomplish a goal. For instance, it is clearly not possible to become a great footballer by only dreaming of the great Argentine footballer Maradona but without coming out of the room. The same is true for other fields of accomplishments too.  It may even be said that the saying “nothing is impossible” is more of a triumphal chant than a prayer before starting a task.  

Bad lucks or misfortunes are inevitable in life and are destined to come along the way of life. Everyone under the sun one day or someday admit that life is not a bed of roses. These misfortunes are which indeed makes things appear impossible on the surface but on overturning they prove that nothing is really impossible.  Most important thing here is again to have the courage to control the misfortune, not the other way round. Smile on to it, not in contempt, but in showing your win over it.

It may be nice to hear others saying with confidence that “nothing is impossible”. But it is sweeter when you come to know that the same is true for you.  Until and unless you have this feeling of victory by yourself it is not really very easy to say “nothing is impossible”.

Nothing is impossible in this world for a person with sound mind and body. A foolish person will hardly accomplish miraculous feat. If the contrary happens by chance or by choice, he will no longer be called foolish by the time he accomplished such big thing.  It must be known that it is very foolish to have foolish thoughts like I am going to climb up heaven for nothing is impossible. The point is: sound mind and sound body plays an important role for one to achieve success or prove that everything is possible. One should clearly know his or her capability before embarking upon any task where the ‘nothing impossible’ method could be applied.  Only when you have a clear-cut idea of the thing you aspire for, being accompanied by your interest and passion, you will be able to prove that “nothing is impossible”.

One has also to sacrifice or lose something in order to prove that nothing is impossible. To prove that passing IAS examination is possible, one cannot escape buying study materials. Attending coaching institute may be an individual choice. One may even get study kits free of cost from friends, relatives or others. But there is no escape in that one has at least to put effort in collecting the study materials. The well known saying No Pain No Gain is true.

To conclude, what is really important is ‘getting ready’ to say “nothing is impossible”. It may sound absurd, but very true that unless you are ready to set out for a task, to prove nothing is impossible is far away. After readiness, go step by step. Keep waiting while not ceasing to work. Admit all kinds of impediments on the way. Welcome even misfortunes. Renew your courage and confidence even in times when you may think you lack it but still you have it. Do not look back in vain, if not for corrections from past mistakes.  Devote your time and stick to your target. One day or some day, you, you alone, not others for you, will say with confirmation in your heart of hearts that nothing is really impossible, for you have proven it true.  


(This essay of mine has been adjudged the WINNER of the essay writing contest conducted by Competition Success Review for its January 2014 issue). Happy !

  

A HOME WE ARE IN NEED

A HOME WE ARE IN NEED

Sleepless nights after sleepless nights,

I thought over and over again,

But to no conclusion I came,

Where, how and when?

A house we have indeed,

But a Home we are in need!

A house is not a home,

If you don’t belong to it!

It was in 2003* when it all began,

When our home and village,          10

Burnt to ashes like a dream;

No choice left but refuge.

Then, here and there,

A shelter we’re not in want;

But a Home we are much in want!

But not easy to find or never?

They say why don’t you?…

Aren’t you?...or even rebuke;

But never they understand us,

Coz’ we talk and look like them,              20

But not say and see like them.    

And it's harsher with poverty!

To survive but not live; 

Longing for belonging!

Only hoping for the time,

When we shall have Home.

Yet not it comes at once!

Yet not I lose hope either!

To live like this is hell!

Impossible to bear forever!    30

One day or some day,

Far or near unknown,

Our eyes and heart

Will see and sing with joy, this way:

"This is our home, friends,

Come, eat and drink;

Hey Bro, Sis, Mom, Dad,

Take rest; Now we live,

In our sweet HOME”     39

*This refers to the ethnic cleansing campaign of the Dimasas in 2003 when they burnt down many of the Hmar villages, in N.C. Hills, Assam, including ours. Thousands of the Hmars, including us, had to flee our villages and seek refuge in several parts of the country. We, of course, got shelter some way or other, but never regain the past and recover the huge material loss, not to speak of the loss of precious human lives. I think our lot nears the lot of war victims in several parts of the world.

R. L. Muon Inbuon, Kolasib, 6^th Dec 2012


(This poem has been published in the souvenir of HSA Platinum Jubilee. Thanks to the Editorial Board). 

Lung a dam nawh

Chinlai Nunhlui

Chinlai nunhlui liemhnung

Nghilni reng a um thei nawh;

Ngaiin, kokir theichangsien ka nuom

Lungmuongte-a lenglaini kha!

Lungkham hrim nei lo rengin,

Khawdung khawvai hrutin,

Lenruol kimten kan leng ;

Turnipui  senvung le ruopui dovin,

Umni kan kham tudang ngai lovin.

Doralpui, khuolram le lungchimlona,

Harsatna le lungngaina tinreng,

Um theiin kan ring ngai nawh;

Kiltin par ang a vul, lawm a kim,

Nau ang kan innui lungril thlamuongin,

Aw! tienlai maw zuk inchang el ta chuh!

Beiseina khamhrui a sei a,

Pielral ieng nunkhaw nuom hun ngakhla’n,

Chun le zuo lunglawm a kim, innui sieuin,

Thiemna run kan kai malsawmna leh,

Hlawtlingnan  a mi hmuok beiseina thar leh;

Run insang kan kutsuok ngeiah kaiin,

Hringnun tui ang a dam, virthli leng dam hieu leh;

Sawl a dam lungkham nei lo reng chu!

Sienkhawm, Dierkeipa itsikna ral hung hrangin,

A thiem a var hmasa kan hnam a run;

Nunrawngna chelekin Nunau an inrieng, 

Kangmei, hriemhrei a zam Hmar run tinah;

Kan vangkhawzawl riel ang a dei zo tah!

Zaleng lungphang khuoi ang an zam dar!

Hrietlo ram muoltin tlangtin sukin,

Riekmaw ieng invaiin  kir an mawi nawh;

Khuol ang chamin, bul tan tha in, ngai aw lo rengin,

Lung a dam mawl nawh, lung a sa dawn chang ni hin.

Dated Kolasib 26^th September 2013.

My views on the plight of the Hmars in Mizoram

The Hmars are one of the tribal groups in North East India having their own language and distinct culture. They traced back their historic home to be somewhere in China, whence they moved southwards to their present day settlements in different states of India.

The Hmars constitute the majority of the population of Mizoram. Yet they are alienated and treated as minority. Why?

The basic reason for this according to me is because they are not free to use their mother tongue, keeping aside all the other superficial reasons as often cited by the Duhlian-dialect speaking people. Here one must know that Duhlian dialect is cleverly made synonymous with Mizo, which is an inclusive term covering entire Chin-Kuki-Lushai tribal population.

How can one be free when they are looked down upon by their fellow human beings as and when they express themselves in their own language even within their family circle? Is not this discrimination of utmost inhumane kind, not to speak of Constitutional provision and the likes?

Among other things, what one can be confident with even after being stripped off all his/her possessions, is his/her mother tongue which he or she is born with. In fact and indeed, it is our mother tongue through which we best express our feelings.

One can be multilingual speaker and anyone who has this ability is of course idealistic so far as linguistic communication is concerned. But then, the world is not a one culture space, and people in the world don’t speak one language. Rather, as well known, different cultures and thousands of languages exist in the world, and most importantly, people in the world are divided into groups and the division more on linguistic than political base.  

The point is that the Hmars have their own language and culture, and this entails that they have their own literature, music, art, and distinct cultural values. Moreover, the Hmars are possessive and obsessive in their own culture and may even be regarded as the one who most hate cultural assimilation. To say shortly and simply, the Hmars are proud of their language and culture. Truly they love to develop their own language and culture, as others in the world do. After all, who in the world want to serve others forever? On the contrary, even slaves got their turn to rule.

The demand for separate administration by the Hmars in Mizoram is thus more intended to promote the Hmar language and culture than to get monetary benefit. 

Like others, the Hmars also love to freely speak their language. Not that they hate to speak language of others. Of course, they know the very common fact that people in this world learn others’ language in order to communicate with others for different purposes and they have done the same and will go on.

My conclusion is that whether the Hmars have a separate administrative unit or not (in Mizoram), they would forever fight to attain freedom to use their language without any suppression of any kind.  The Hmars really hate to be looked down upon just like the Blacks hated discrimination from the Whites. As and when the Hmars get freedom to use their own language and thereby promote their own culture and literature, only then the Hmars will live in peace.  In other words, as long as the Duhlian speaking people, who take the inclusive term Mizo in the narrowest sense, discriminate and laugh at the Hmars (and other etchnic tribes) comprising many poor families, yet human beings, they will go on struggling for their cause.

Kolasib, 20^th September 2013

Believe in God and live a peaceful life

It is always good to believe in God. It is useless to deny the presence of God everywhere. It is good to simply believe that he created the universe and the earth. Scientific findings may be there as long as human life exists, but just to prove the magnificence of God.

One day or some day there is time to every person when he or she feels there is something beyond human understanding and capacity. That very critical moment proves the very existence of unseen controller who is none other than God, the Almighty.

Jesus said to one of his disciples Thomas, after his resurrection, that whoever believes him even without seeing is privileged. This is true because whether you see or not, Jesus died and rises from death for your salvation and sanctification. Whether you believe it or not, God reigns over the world. So, the sooner you come to him, the better it is for you, and you will be peaceful in life.

Kolasib

21^st September 2013

My simple definition of Literature

Literature is the expression of life through oral and written language. Literature is the record of life with all of its activities. Literature refers to the sayings and writings about life and everything under the sun.

Literature includes both the oral and written expressions about life. However, there can be a question like whether everything said and written can be regarded as literature? The answer is NO. Why? Because, are we to regard someone saying “I go the market” or “Give me this fruit” as a piece of literature? NO. So, every conversation cannot be admitted into the realm of literature.

What then is the measuring tool or criterion by which we shall regard sayings or writings as literature or worth literature? Words or word which comes out from the ‘heart’, not simply out of the mind or mouth, constitute the essence of literature.

Let me elaborate my point. When someone expresses about his or her happiness or grief or the likes whatever he or she may encounter or comes across in the journey of life till death and the same that are also felt by his or her fellow human beings under the universe irrespective of skin colours, dwelling place, physique and other variances as many as possible, then, he or she automatically would use such words that would have the power to touch the heart of fellow human beings; such words that springs up from the heart, besides connecting to others’ heart naturally, would be lasting and also have universal value which time cannot kill. Such expressions from the heart to the heart we would call literature or having the quality of literature. 

So, one may express his or her ‘"universal’ feelings", if I am right to say so,(the word ‘universal’' is significant here) through different mediums like poem, drama, essay or novel etc. at his own purpose or as fit his stylistic ability, all comes under the umbrella term literature.

Kolasib, the 23^rd September 2013. 

Adieu 2012 !!!

Year of accomplishments and achievements

All days with beloved, near and dear ones; 

Wish I could hold on and don't let it go; But no,

By leaving, it ensure a new step needful, So

Why don't I say Thank You while I bid adieu !

Success has its own turn

I don't say that this is true. But you can prove it whether it is true or not true at all. You might have heard of many people telling of their success stories; there you must have marked that success of theirs did not come at just one or two go. Rather their way of success has its many twists and turns, and even sometimes success comes only after all hope seems to wane.

Well, think about yourself. There are many tasks ahead. You also have set a goal or some goals to achieve. There will also comes a time when you think that you work enough and you deserve success. Sometimes you may be disappointed too, even to the extent that you will think your goal might be something unattainable.

But, but, but, my friend, be not disappointed even when it seems that all hopes are gone. Keep on working and waiting, for SUCCESS has its own turn for you, just like for others. You cannot advanced or delayed the turn of success. Co-incidence or what can we say, at the right time and at the right turn, your's and the turn of success will meet at the same point. This is what we call ACHIEVING SUCCESS.

Nothing Special but boring
This is also one way of life
What can I say

A Happy New Year!

A new day is here.

We hope to be fine

Till the sun will shine.

With thee God Almighty,

Our deed will be mighty.

October Night

        October Night

‘Tis a moonlit night

The moon is just high above my head

I’m on the rooftop of my rented house

The wind from all sides blowing gently

So cool and mild the weather is !

This is October

Month of winter-begin in India

Night comes colder every night

How fresh my mind and thoughts

After taking bath I come up here.

Putting my fan on in my room

But I prefer to be here on the rooftop

Coz the gently wind that breeze

With the moon above is calm and rapture.

Nature contrast to man-made

Wordsworth or whoever may say

Now I say and feel: nature, natural

Perfect is all that He made.

-R.L.Muon Inbuon

12^th October 2011 11: 10 – 11: 40 pm, Silchar, Assam, India.