A GLIMPSE ON THE MANIPURI AMAIBAS AND AMAIBIS

By. Khwairakpam Gajananda

Manipur’s, ‘Amaiba and Amaibis’ can be regarded as the pioneers of certain traditional medical discoverers. Whole over the World, there are always some types of ancient medical practitioners, they may be called as “Witches or Tantrik” or any other forms of names, but their knowledge sometime helped in the development of the modern medicine. It would be wrong that our ‘Amaibas and Amaibis used only the Chaban Thaba and Mantra Jantra’ rituals, they also used some very effective medicinal/herbal plants e.g. lamangkha, nongmangkha, langthrei, peruk etc. The anomaly is that if a western Scientist took up the research on “Chaban Thaba”, we will appreciate it and feel more important. However, as of now no such research has been conducted, therefore, our traditional practices are seemed to be obsolete.

With our modern knowledge on various Sciences and Technologies and fast information/communications facilities, we are more informed than our forefathers. We knew that the ways of making medicines/foods by our ancestor are very primitive, but the duty of our modern generation is to make it more scientific and effective. This is what many of the western multinational pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies are doing. It is easier for us (21st Century Homo-Sapiens) to identify between the positive and negative sides of our traditional practices. However, a petty looking traditional ritual/practice may sometime become a breakthrough scientific product. We can term it as “scientific understanding of our traditional knowledge’s”. Some of the examples of Manipuri’s food items, which are regarded as ultra nutritious and proven by moderns scientific researchers are the Black Rice (Chahao), Yongchak, Ngari, Soibum/Soijin, Hawaichar etc.

On the other hand, the famous dance of Manipuri Ras Lila was the amalgamations of Maibi Jagoi and story of Krishna. During “Laiharaoba”, the rhythmic dances of Maibis and the sequential depictions of human developments from “Embryo”, is something unique to undertake researches upon. The hymns of the Maibis and Pena Yakairol definitely must have certain acoustics impacts on the human physiological, psychological and nervous systems. But our ignorance is making it looked like an ordinary murmuring by some eunuch! If it were in Japan, the whole world by now will be enjoying the Pena Yakairol and Maibi Laimang Famba as something extraordinary acoustic therapy.

The values of our traditional rituals and practices come from thousands of years of experiences. Some of the practices are locally proven but many of them are yet to be researched or exploited for beneficial purposes. The modernizations of our traditions and cultures are at the hands of the new generations. Again taking the example of Japan, it can be mentioned here that their traditional practices are not 100% foolproof, there are many Japanese Cults still practicing hazardous rituals. But the endpoint is that Japanese are famous for preserving or conserving their traditions and cultures. How about we Manipuri?

(Contact: gajakh@gmail.com) July 9, 2014 

Hougatlo Thengle!

By. Khwairakpam Gajananda

Nongpok maikei ngankhare.
Nongchup maikei ninkhare.
Awang maikei saktakle.
Makha maikei noklakle.
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!

Punshina panthung youdringei.
Thawaina meekon naringei.
Pangalna sarep faringei.
Thangatlo thangol, pukhatlo potlum.
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!

Sagatlo manglangi fura.
Mangfao nahanlo waakhalgi mame.
Puraklo awonba taibangi.
Nganhanlo manige maangal.
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!

Awabana potlum pudringei.
Ashana mami samdringei.
Waakhalna tungkhul tandringei.
Lepkhatlo nongdol thengna, yengkhatlo atiya pakna.
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!

Panngakpiro ereibakpu lingjen leina.
Chenkhatlo chokthaba leitana.
Chatlasi panthung younaba.
Utlasi ngasidi ereibakchasa, eikhoigi thouna taibangda.
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!
Hougatlo thengle ereibakchasa!

(Contact: gajakh@gmail.com) July 09, 2014 

ILPS And Indigenous Peoples Rights: Manipur

By Khwairakpam Gajananda (PhD)

DEFINITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES:

`Indigenous peoples are those which having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems`, according to Martinez-Cobo, 1984, the United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Indigenous Communities, Peoples and Nations.

INTRODUCTION:

The indigenous peoples of the world is very diverse and is about 400 million with close to 5000 distinct tribes, which symbolize and nurture 80% of the world`™s cultural and biological diversity`”occupying 20% of the world`™s land surface. Indigenous Peoples play key roles in preserving land, environment, ecology, protecting language, promoting and preserving culture and tradition. Many of the World`™s Indigenous Peoples have already adapted to the paradigm shift and are adjusting to the technological and political changes. By respecting the nature, Indigenous Peoples are champions to the sustainable conservations of the environment.

Despite such extensive diversity in indigenous communities throughout the world, all Indigenous Peoples have one thing in common`”they all share a history of injustice. Indigenous Peoples have been killed, tortured and enslaved in all the livable continents. Many of them are the victims of genocide and are denied the rights to participate in governing processes of the political systems. The fundamental rights of self-determination, dignity and identity of indigenous peoples were stolen during the conquest and colonization.

The rights of Indigenous Peoples overlap with many other human rights; however, the important parts are not framed specifically but are part of more general treaties, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

UNITED NATIONS (UN) DECLARATIONS AND CONVENTIONS:

(1) The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001)

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001) for the first time recommended the UN to use the phrase `Indigenous Peoples` in all the documents rather than using the phrase `Indigenous People`. This carries a clear message to the World`™s populations that the `Indigenous Peoples`™ is not singular but plural!

(2) The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, March 2008

This declaration is the most comprehensive statement of the rights of Indigenous Peoples to date, establishing collective rights to a greater extent than any other document in international human rights law. It establishes the rights of Indigenous Peoples to the protection of their cultural property and identity as well as the rights to education, employment, health, religion, language and more. It also protects the right of Indigenous Peoples to own land collectively. Although, States are not legally bound by the Declaration, it exerted a considerable amount of moral force by the General Assembly. Consisting of 46 Articles, the draft Declaration is divided into nine parts. Some of the Articles of the Declarations are reproduced as follows:

Article 1:- Indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the UN, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law.

Article 5:- Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.

Article 6:- Every indigenous individual has the right to a nationality.

Article 8:- 1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture. 2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for: (a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities; (b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources; (c) Any form of forced population transfer, which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights; (d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration; (e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination directed against them.

Article 13:- 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons. 2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that this right is protected and also to ensure that indigenous peoples can understand and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, where necessary through the provision of interpretation or by other appropriate means.

Article 27:- States shall establish and implement, in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned, a fair, independent, impartial, open and transparent process, giving due recognition to indigenous peoples`™ laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems, to recognize and adjudicate the rights of indigenous peoples pertaining to their lands, territories and resources, including those which were traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used. Indigenous peoples shall have the right to participate in this process.

Article 30:- 1. Military activities shall not take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a relevant public interest or otherwise freely agreed with or requested by the indigenous peoples concerned. 2. States shall undertake effective consultations with the indigenous peoples concerned, through appropriate procedures and in particular through their representative institutions, prior to using their lands or territories for military activities.

Article 31:- 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. 2. In conjunction with indigenous peoples, States shall take effective measures to recognize and protect the exercise of these rights.

Article 36:- 1. Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders. 2. States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take effective measures to facilitate the exercise and ensure the implementation of this right.

(3) The Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1992

The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1992 recognized the special relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their lands. Indigenous Peoples have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their traditional knowledge and practice. In order to fully make use of that knowledge, some Indigenous Peoples need greater control over their land, self-management of their resources and participation in development decisions affecting them (Agenda 21, Chapter 26.4). The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), thus called upon its signatories to `respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices”.

The objective of the biological diversity conservation of the UN-Earth Submit and consequently the aim of many Nations of the World is the universal phrase `Unity in Diversity`. Diversity indeed, included both hybridize and pure breed species. In this scenario, conservation of pure breed sustainably`”is more important and better than the hybridize one, in the long run. To avoid extinction, hybridization is the best strategy`”but at the cost of losing the precious pure breed `genetic pool`™. The problem is, in a population of a species, if a sub-species extinct, slowly the other surviving sub-species genes started getting into mutation phase, which has the high-probability of getting extinct due to various causes e.g. cancers, diseases, reproductive disorders, competitions, natural selections etc. Hence, it is pertinent to conserve Indigenous Peoples (pure breed) for a long chain of healthy genetic diversity and for our future generations. Here, we can take some examples of the World`™s Indigenous Peoples who are
currently preserved for their unique identities, cultures and traditions; they are viz. Inuit: Greenland, Northern Canada, Alaska; Sami: Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia; Nuba: Sudan; Pygmy peoples: Central and Western Africa; Khoikhoi: South Africa; Tibetan people: Tibet; Karen: Burma and Thailand; Wa people: Burma and China`s Yunnan Province; Penan: Sarawak, Malaysia; Andalusians: Spain; Manx people: Great Britain; the Red Indian: USA; Occitans: France; Yolngu people: Arnhem Land, Australia; Fijian: Fiji; Itza: Mayan people of Guatemala; Mayo: Sonora, Mexico; Awá-Guajá: eastern Amazonian rainforest, Brazil; Yora: Amazon rainforest, southeast Peru etc.

(4) Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)

This Declaration deals with all minorities, which includes many of the world`™s Indigenous Peoples. It only concerns individual rights, although collective rights might be derived from those individual rights. The Declaration deals both with States`™ obligations towards minorities as well as the rights of minority people. Topics that are dealt with include: the national or ethnic, cultural, religious or linguistic identity of minorities (Article 1); the free expression and development of culture; association of minorities amongst themselves; participation in decisions regarding the minority (Article 2); the exercise of minority rights, both individual and in groups (Article 3); and education of and about minorities (Article 4).

The UN bodies recognize that indigenous culture is directly linked to land, water and other resources and language. In this scenario, `Media`™ thus plays the vital role as a non-violent weapon to spread awareness/information within and without indigenous communities.

INDIAN CONSTITUTIONS

In India, there are about 461 ethnic groups, which are recognized as Scheduled Tribes (ST). They are considered to be India`™s Indigenous Peoples. The constitutions of India gives equal respect to all communities, sects, lingual and ethnic groups etc. in the country. The constitution also guarantees to all citizens the freedom of speech (Article 19), freedom of religion (Article 25), equality (Articles 14 to 17), liberty (Article 21), etc. India has several laws and constitutional provisions, such as the Fifth (5th) Schedule for mainland India and the Sixth (6th) Schedule for certain areas of North-east India, which recognize Indigenous Peoples`™ rights to land and self-governance. The laws aimed at protecting indigenous peoples have, however, numerous shortcomings and their implementation is far from satisfactory.

There are numerous indigenous people residing in the hills of Northern, North-Eastern and Southern India, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Himalayan regions of India etc. Some of the examples are: Bodo-Kachari: Assam (Bodoland), Arunachal Pradesh; Karbi: Assam; Khasi-Jaintia: Meghalaya, Assam; Mishmi people: Arunachal Pradesh; Nocte: Arunachal Pradesh; Mizo people: Mizoram; Naga: Nagaland; Tripuri (Borok): Tripura; Ladakhi: Jammu and Kashmir; Andamanese: Andaman Islands; Jangil (Rutland Jarawa): now extinct, formerly of Rutland Island, Andamans; Onge: Little Andaman; Nicobarese people (Holchu): Nicobar Islands, India; Shompen: Nicobar Islands, India; Bhutia: Sikkim; Kota: Nilgiris etc.

Lahual and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh has strict rules for non-native people to reside or buy land or plot. Foreigners are being permitted to visit the restricted/protected areas by the authorities specified under Section 3 of the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 by the State Government of Himachal Pradesh. Similarly, in Ladakh since May 1, 2014, Indian Nationals or Tourists need to present valid Photo ID, Nationality Proof at the Indo Tibetan Border Police or Army check-posts. However, all foreign nationals need to apply for PAP (Protect Area Permits) in a group of two or more through a registered travel agent in Leh. Acquiring PAP, allow foreigners to visit the restricted areas in Ladakh of Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso, and Dah`“Hanu Villages. The States of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Nicobar Islands have similar types of ILPS imposed in their respective States. The aspirations to protect/preserved Indigenous Peoples of Indian States such as Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttaranchal, West Bengal and other hills regions of India are gaining momentum, because most of the ethnic minority groups believed that over the time they are slowly becoming minorities in their own homeland.

The Constitutions of India, Article 19 (D) & (E) allows all the citizens to move freely throughout the territory of India and to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India, however, sub-clause (5) emphasizes that the State can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses (D & E) for the protection of the interests of any indigenous community. In Manipur, the said sub-clause of the article has been violated. There is no provision to protect the Indigenous Tribal Peoples`”those who mainly reside in the four valleys districts of Manipur, whose populations, land and cultural identities are day-by-day diminishing. Thus, it is high-time for the State and Central Government to conserve/preserve the indigenous peoples of Manipur, before it is too late!

MANIPUR AND INNER LINE PERMIT SYSTEMS (ILPS)

Manipur comprises of complex set of indigenous Scheduled Castes (SC); Scheduled Tribes (ST) and General categories communities. The tribal Kukis and Nagas dominated the hilly areas, which is about 90% of the land (20089 km2) of Manipur. These two ethnic communities have very closed affinity with Meetei (General and OBC Categories) and shared historically, socially, culturally, economically and demographically`”since thousands of years.

Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLR & LR) Act 1960 provide protections of indigenous tribal lands of Manipur in the five Hills Districts of Manipur, which is again strengthened with the recently held Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections and the proposed 6th Schedule to be implemented there. However, the porous Myanmar border provided safe-haven for foreigners to infiltrate in many districts of Manipur e.g. Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul. The very close affinities to the ethnicity, languages and traditions of many Manipuri tribal and the Myanmarese people generally helped the latter to migrate and settle in many parts of Manipur`”without proper documents or verifications. The Acts and Laws thus provided for Manipuri`™s are toothless and are compromised at the cost of the original Manipuri tribal`™s socio-economy, natural resources, land, culture and traditions.

On the other hand, the `Meeteis`™, original ethnic Manipuri people residing mainly in the four valley districts (only 10% or 2238 km2 of the total geographical areas of Manipur) are day by day marginalized due to the pressures from various angles. The general populations of Meeteis are regarded as General Category with small sections of the community coming under Scheduled Caste (SC) and after the introductions of Other Backward Classes (OBC) insignificant numbers of socio-economically backward families were included in OBC categories by the Indian Union.

The history of Meeteis can be trace back to 33 AD, which is very distinct and thousands of years old language and folklores`”found both orally and in written. Culturally, Meeteis can be regarded as one of the community, which has the richest cultures in the World. Indisputably, Meetei with distinct culture, tradition and language can be regarded as true indigenous community as per UN declarations, thus should be protected under the Constitutions of India.

Some of the points that seriously threaten the valley dwelling peoples and their lands in the four districts of Manipur are: 1. The four districts of Manipur is open for any Indian Citizen to purchase or reside, thus the land areas of Meeteis and Tribal are shrinking considerably since Indian independence. 2. Hybridizations due to migrations and immigrations seriously altered the genetic pools of the Indigenous Peoples in valley districts. 3. Dilutions and adulterations of cultures, traditions and languages during last three-four centuries and the significant socio-economic alterations after the merger of Manipur to the Indian Union, will slowly bring the Meetei community to minority level in their own homeland. 4. Though the present population growth rate of Manipur is about 18%, which is more than the national average`”it is believed that the rate is mainly due to immense migrations of non-indigenous communities, foreigners such as Bangladeshi, Myanmarese, Nepalis etc. 5. In Manipur, there is no provision to protect the ST and SC communities who are presently residing in many small pockets of the valley districts and 6. Trans-boundaries subversive activities, thus arise in Manipur can be directly or indirectly linked with our inappropriate plans, policies, programs or legislative actions, which does not provide comprehensive protections for the Indigenous Peoples of Manipur.

The present mass actions taken up by the people of Manipur to introduce ILPS can be regarded as visionaries`™ decisions to safeguard the unique traditions, cultures, languages, lands, natural resources, ecology, biodiversity and environment of Manipur. The political and government wills to protect and safeguard its own subjects, therefore, will give better impetus to bring peace and harmony to the State and to the Nation.

(Author is Associate Professor of Center for Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia and can be reached at gajakh@gmail.com) July 27, 2015 

Preserving The Macha Ebemma Khudithibi Area, Ningthoukhong, Manipur

By Khwairakpam Gajananda

The recent Eviction Notice by the Sub-Divisional Officer/SDM, Bishnupur around the Macha Ebemma Khudithibi (MEK) area has made the people of the area, specially the local Meeteis and Kabui tribes, worried of losing their age old beloved lands to the project proposal of a Technology Centre for Fragrance and Flavor to be set up by the Commerce and Industries, Govt. of Manipur. In the backdrop of the tension in the hills of Manipur, MEK area can be regarded as one of the most peaceful area, where the Meeteis, tribal and other communities of Manipur live harmoniously since time immemorial.

MEK area is 33km South of Imphal and is 3km west of the Ningthoukhong Municipal Town, which is on the NH-150. It is at the foothill of the Laimaton and Thangching hill ranges, which was famous for its role in the World War-II, fought between the British and the Japanese. The aerial distance of MEK from Loktak Lake is about 4 km, separated by the vast agricultural land. The area (about 60 hectares) is surrounded by prime paddy fields, various native trees species (some are more than 100 years old) such as State tree Uningthou (Phoebe hainesiana B.), Uyung (Quercus serrata L.), Usoi (Schima wallichii L.), Teak (Tectona grandis L.), Leihao (Magnolia champaca L.), Wang (Gmelina arborea L.), Yendang (Cycas pectinata), agro-forestry farms and medicinal plants.

Historically, MEK area falls under a sacred place of Manipuri’s local deity called Macha Ebemma Khudithibi, daughter of the famous Epudhou Oknarel, elder brother of the king Moirang Thangching. Oknarel came towards tribal village called Sadu Khuroi, after a conflict with his younger brother. He married to a Sadu (Kabui tribe) woman and descended towards the valley of Ningthoukhong. When Oknarel came down to Ningthoukhong with his family, his only daughter accidentally struck a stone with her feet, fall-down on the road and died. The place where she died is now well preserved with lush green woods, trees, flowers and Sacred Groves. Tombs and worshiping places are erected by the local people of Ningthoukhong at the site. The area is developing in true spirits of Manipuri’s historical backgrounds. MEK is proposed to be included in the “Natural Heritage Sites”.

The area is naturally bestowed by indigenous flora and fauna of Manipur, which is also an ecological niche with very high biodiversity. Agriculturally, the area produced many tons of rice every year and served thousands of people of Manipur. The area is potentially high for tourism and can cater to bring tourists from whole over the World to Manipur by exhibiting its unique natural, cultural and ecological environment. It can serve as educational sites for children. The area can also empower both the youth and women of Manipur by employing them in agricultural, horticultural and tourism activities.

On dated 13th January 1950, the Forest Officer, Manipur, issued order (F. Misc. Case No. 1223/48/49) to the effect that the land under Dag No. 9 of Village No. 44-Ningthoukhong Kha is not included in the Forest Area of the Manipur’s reserved forest. Khundrakpam Phulinkanta, former Revenue Minister, Govt. of Manipur, De-reserved the area as homestead and agricultural land on December 1984. Prajatantra Imphal newspaper published the said decision of the Govt. of Manipur on 24th December 1984, mentioning the de-reservation of 43 and 44 Ningthoukhong Kha. On the same day, other hills and valley areas of Manipur viz. Moreh, Churachandpur, Kwakta, and Khoupum Valley were also de-reserved by the Cabinet Ministers, Govt. of Manipur.

After de-reservation, the farmers of the area acquired the land pattas allotted to them; however, marginal farmers were not able to procure it due to their financial and personal constraints. Thus, the areas have both Pattadars and Dag Chitha holders. Relevant documents of the farmers and official government maps were burned to ashes during the July 2004, Manipur’s agitation on Manorama Devi issue. Since then (11 years), the documents of the area were never updated/processed by the revenue officials. Poor farmers were kept in dark and run from post to pillar to get their land documents. However, the officials announced the farmers as trespassers in their own land and declared the area as Khas Land. On the other hand, it was found that some of the officials of SDC-Ningthoukhong issued computerized land Pattas and Dag Chitha to migrants, while indigenous people were left-out.

Sub-Divisional Officer/SDM, Bishnupur, on 10th September 2015 served a “Notice of Eviction” to the poor farmers of the 44-Ningthoukhong Kha, within 10 days from date of proclamation of the order. The notice was delivered to the farmers on the evening (6.30pm) of dated 18th September 2015 by the Officer Incharge (OC) of the Loktak Police Station, giving the farmers a single working day of Saturday, 19th September 2015. On 21st September 2015 morning, the houses of the poor farmers were destroyed and evicted in a war-like situation, using many well equipped Police Personnel’s.

At this juncture, it is questionable, whether the mono-culture plantation of Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates) and Shangbrei (Pogostemon purpurascens) and employments of few people for the development of Technology Centre for Fragrance and Flavor, is better than destroying the rare and indigenous plants, wild rare orchids, native trees and paddy fields of this ecologically fragile Manipur area?

The indigenous people of the MEK area are harmoniously living socially and culturally with their natural environment. The area is the only aesthetic and recreational part around Ningthoukhong. The people continue to preserve and manage MEK with their traditional indigenous knowledge, which was passed on to them by their ancestors. Therefore, actions that may violates the guidelines of indigenous people’s rights, including illegal eviction, internal displacement, termination of right to possession, right to livelihood, right to education, right to health, right to water etc. must be avoided. The present eviction will directly affect 100s of people, homestead land, religious sites, sacred grove, agricultural and agro-forestry lands, fragile ecosystem and cultural integrity of Manipur.

Looking at the current scenarios, the project proponent/s should meticulously conduct “cost benefit analysis” of whether the project will, in the long run, be feasible and beneficial to the stakeholders. There is also a need for a social impact assessment (SIA) by the project proponent/s.

It is imperative to mention here that, in recent years, there is a visible change in the climatic condition of Manipur. This resulted in the losses of Crores of rupees from the State exchequer and the common people suffer. Thus, climate resilient programs of afforestation of MEK area and developing it in line with the “Act East Policy” of India, such as tourism, organic farming, agro-forestry, herbal and medicinal plants productions etc. will bring more sustainable development of not only MEK area but also the state of Manipur in the near future.

(The Author is Associate Professor, Center for Environmental Sciences, CNS, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and e-mail: gajakh@gmail.com) 28-Sep-2015 

UNRAVELING MAITRI, ANTARCTICA 1998-2000

By Dr. Khwairakpam Gajananda 

India started its first expedition to Antarctica in the year 1981 led by Dr. S. Z. Qasim, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Govt. of India. The expedition code named 'Operation Gangotri', was undertaken in an ice-breaker named M. V. Polar Circle, chartered from A/S. G. C. Reiber Bergen, Norway. Twenty one scientists, technicians and naval personnel selected from seven different institutions participated the 1st Indian Antarctic Expedition. The ship set sail from Mormugao harbor on December 6, 1981, and after 77 days, covering a distance of about 21,000 kilometers. The ship finally touch the Mormugao harbor on February 21, 1982. The first permanent station known as 'Dakshin Gangotri' was established during the 3rd Expedition of 1983-84. Twelve Members Over Wintered in the Station from March 1, 1984 and returned to Goa on March 25, 1985. Since than India had been continuously launching the Expeditions and sending the Wintering Members every year. In the year 1989 a new Permanent Station called 'Maitri' was commissioned. Maitri lies at the 'Schirmacher Region' of East Antarctica at 70°45'58" S Lat. and 11°43'56" E Long. The area of Schirmacher Oasis is around 35 sq. km. Dakshin Gangotri was abandoned in the year 1990-91. After the establishment of the modern permanent station Maitri, from 1990-91 until 2000 more than 250 Scientists, Technicians, Army and Naval Personnels had Over Winterred during the decade. During December 1998 to April 2000, the Members comprises of 26 scientific and logistic teams from 8 different organizations and Over Wintered until the last year of the 20th Century.

SHELTER

The Maitri Station is reinforced with iron bars to withstand high wind speed (upto 320 km/hr) and the walls are thermally insulated for protection against low temperature. The energy is supplied by generators in the station. The station is kept warm (~ 25° C) by circulating hot water from the boilers. The Maitri Station represent a micro-climate where all the activities are carried out. It is totally in contrast to the outside the ambient environment. There are also several insulated huts for the Summer Team, which are used as Laboratory during Winter. A lake known as 'Priyadrashani Lake' provides palatable fresh water and is totally frozen upto 20ft during winter. Most of this Schirmacher Region is covered by ice round the year. 

CLOTHING AND FOODING

The clothing provided here is all thermally insulated and has the uniqueness of retaining the body heat and to released the perspiration. Foods are devoid of freshness due to the preservation for long time in the deep freezer. The food although contain large amount of proteins and carbohydrates, it lacks some important vitamin like Vitamin-C, therefore, the chances of scurvy is high. The rich supply of apple juice and other fruit juice had curbed of this disease. 

ANTARCTIC MID-WINTER DAY

Antarcticans celebrate only one holiday in a year viz. 21st June of every year. This day is known as 'Antarctic Mid Winter Day'. The year 1999, marks the Centenary of the 1st Wintering Expedition in Antarctica and being the last Wintering of the Millennium.  All the 26 Winter Over Team Members in Maitri witnessed the historic day. Greetings were exchanged among all the Antarctic Stations. Greetings also received from various Celebrities and Dignitaries of the world. The day was celebrated with grand parties and cultural programs. 

SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

The scientific programs are interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary, with Members drawn from various national organisations/institutions and universities. The main Organisations participating are Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Physical Laboratory (NPL), India Meteorological Department (IMD), R&DE (Engg.), Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory (DEAL), Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and various universities like Barkatullah University, Roorkee University, Banaras Hindu University etc. In addition, Members have participated from Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Survey of India, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Osmania University and Jadhavpur University etc. Physicians and Surgeons were drawn from Railways, Armed Forces, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) and various hospitals in India. The logistic team are drawn from the Indian Army to help in maintaining the station, generators and land convoy. The Scientific endeavors are varied; from the study of moving glaciers to ionospheric study. The ongoing programs of Meteorology, Geomagnetism, Biology, Geology and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were carried out on regular basis. Study on Ozone depletion, green house effect on earth and monitoring of UV-B radiation were carried out most significantly in the Station. The contributions of the Scientists, makes India's image bright and high in the international scenario. 

MEMBERS

The following were the 26 Members of the 16th Winter Over Team (1998-2000) of the 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. 

Sl. No.        Name of the members                       Organization/institution

a.                Mr. Ajay Dhar (Stn. Cdr.)                  Indian Institute of Geomagnetism

b.                Dr. Khwairakpam Gajananda            National Physical Laboratory

c.                Dr. Saurabh Baruah                           National Geophysical Research Institute

d.                Mr. RP Lal                                         India Meteorological Department

e.                Mr. Krishna Murthy                           India Meteorological Department

f.                Mr. Praveen Srivastava                      Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment

g.                Mr.VS Shinde                                    R&DE (Engg.) i

h.                Mr. RK Pandkar                                R&DE (Engg.) i

i.                 Mr. Hemant Gaur                              Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory

j.                 Mr. Som Prakash                               Defence Electronics & Application Laboratory

k.                Dr. Kanagamani(Surgeon)                Indian Railways

l.                 Dr. Shitanshu Nag                             Indian Railways

m.               Maj.VV Kadam                                 Indian Army

n.                Capt. RV Vasant                                Indian Army

o.                Sub. MC Sharma                               Indian Army

p.                Nb./Sub. Sarjit Singh                        Indian Army

q.                HMT. Elicus Soreng                         Indian Army

r.                 HMT. Naresh Kumar                        Indian Army

s.                 HMT. RB Singh                                Indian Army

t.                 HMT. Sitaram                                   Indian Army

u.                 Hav. Narayan Singh                         Indian Army

v.                 Hav. Bishnoi                                     Indian Army

w.                Hav. RB Khatri                                 Indian Army

x.                 Hav. Dilbag Singh                            Indian Army

y.                 Hav. Mohan Singh                            Indian Army

z.                 Hav. Jaswinder Singh                       Indian Army

*****

#todtom2024 #antarctica #maitri #india #antarctic_expidition #manipur 

(The Author is Associate Professor, Center for Environmental Sciences, CNS, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and e-mail: gajakh@gmail.com)

THEORY OF THE EARTH AS A GIANT PRESSURE COOKER.

Khwairakpam Gajananda 

During the late nineteenth century, Edward Suess a geologist from Austria suggested that all the southern hemisphere continents, together with India, were once assembled into a single large landmass or super continent (known as Pangaea), which he called Gondwanaland. Later on Taylor (1908), an American geologist and Alfred Wegner (1912), a German meteorologist incorporated both the geological evidences and meteorological mechanisms of this great continental break; the idea of Continental Drift Theory thus remains a reality.

How this ‘continental drift’ took place during the last 4.6 billion years of earth’s history is rather perplexed or unexplainable. The various Scientists of the world thought that it so happened due to earthquakes, volcanoes, climatic extremes (cooling or warming and both long and short term ice ages) or movement of the tectonic plates on the surface of the earth. External forces like meteorite bombardments, solar flares and meteorological mechanisms on the planet are also postulated. However, the question of “Why earthquakes, volcanoes, climatic extremes or plate tectonic movement took place on the surface of the earth?” is rather an unanswered question.

A new theory proposed now is that the earth is like a “giant pressure cooker” of which the ‘Sun’ heats the surface continuously during the last 4.6 billion years and also heated the liquids present inside it. The solid earth crust covered the liquid magma, which is more than 6650⁰C at the core. The earth does not have a nozzle or whistle to release its pressure like in the case of our present day pressure cooker, however, it released its pressures through various volcanoes, cracks and fissures present both inside the ocean and the land surfaces. The intensities of the pressures released or oozing out of magma are variable from time to time. In some case, the leakages are high like the June and July 1991 Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Mount Pinatubo was once believed to be inactive volcano till that year eruptions, which surprised everyone. During the last 40-50 millions of years, no major released of the earth pressure took place, which can or may wiped out the earth’s populations like in the case of the 60-65 million years ago, when all the dinosaurs were extinct.

Similar to the present day pressure cooker phenomena, which used to release the pressures periodically, the earth also need to release its pressure or ooze out its magma with some forces, during its courses within the Solar System. Of course, it might have released its pressures several times, during these 4.6 billion years. However, intermittent leakages like in the case of real pressure cooker (small volcanic eruptions in the case of earth) took place to reduce the pressure inside it. But a time always comes, when the pressures inside the vessel released with full forces and at a very high speed and sound. This must be the time, many apocalyptic hypothesis were prediction for the 'End of the World' by different civilizations, societies or races. For example, the Mayan Apocalypse of Friday, December 21, 2012. Indeed, the Mayan prophecy missed the timeline, however, the 'Pressure Cooker Theory' will not miss in future! 

PAISADO GALLI DA SATHOU BANI!

 KHWAIRAKPAM GAJANANDA

December 10, 2015, Thursday

 

Inglaba Ningthamthagi Matamni,

Sanglaba Mercedes Benz car aduna.

Wanglaba Konunggi Yum Adudagi, Thoudorakli,

Senjao paiba mahasoi!

 

Lepliba thongngak pasu thinthaba leitana,

Hangdoklakee cheksinlaba yotki thongal.

Ueirum-ueirum touduna hangliba car gi thongnao adudagi,

Yenglakkhi mahousabu paisa paiba mahasoi!

 

Khanghoudana sitlakhiba malangba mahaksu,

Khuraba car gi thongnao aduda mengna changlakhi!

Purakhi thamoi kairaba khongbalgi manam,

Tapna yeikhi paisa paiba mahasoigi naton da!

 

“Driver thongnao lonsanlu”, laorakhi paisa paiba mahasoi.

Mapu ningba driver su chingkhatkhi thongnao adu tapna.

Thagat lakhi perfume, Air-condition kya,

Adubu yeikraba apumbagi manamni kokkhiroi matam kharadi!

 

Oeida yenglake—afotpa pan dukan,

Yetta yenglake—second hand dukan.

Sana konung manung dadi udeko asigumbase?

Waakhal macha ama khanlakhi paisa paiba mahasoi!

 

Thourakhi sanglaba car aduna sahar gi galli younaba,

Nakan khuding amotpana thanlaba galli ni.

Meepum khuding taothari chenliba paisa gi echelda,

Yaori paisa paiba mahasoisu chenliba paisagi echel aduda!

 

Okpa leite paisa paiba mahasoi,

Watli tankhini leppa leitana paisado.

Eigi yumgi nakanda namthi jarabasu,

“Paisadi paidaba yade”, khanlakkhi paisa paiba mahasoi?

 

Numidang wairamgi matam yourakhi,

Hanlakhi cheklana mahum ponda hanbagum.

Ningsing lakhi ngasaigi khongbalgi manamdo!

“Driver thongnao lonsinlu!”

 

Khalakhi waakhal macha ama,

“Sengdok sirane eigi yum nakangi amotpa khongbal sibo?

Kanade, moina henna paisa paige harak kani,

Leisanu adumak lairaba makhoina leiriba maongsida!”

 

“Dimapur gi Hong Kong market ta,

Guwahati gi Paltan Bazar da,

Delhi gi Chandni Chowk ta,

Leihouriba eigi marup kyanadi Sana Konungni khanlibani eigi eyumse!”

 

Sana konunggi thongal youramdai,

Mamsuk touraba numitdang wairamgi mangalda.

Chensin lakhi paisa paiba mahasoigi car manak younaba,

Mabuk lamlaba chaknibana makhut ani tingthoklaga!

 

Assao parei chanliba paisa paiba mahasoina,

Laorakhi wanglaba khonjelga loina,

Paisado Galli da Sathou Bani!

Paisado Galli da Sathou Bani!

Paisado Galli da Sathou Bani!

 *****

 

COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Analysis of the Great Planetary Conjunction

By Khwairakpam Gajananda

April 27, 2020

Introduction:
The current global pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) have already affected more than 2.8 million people and took the precious lives of more than 2 lakhs people. During this difficult time it is natural to ask, why our Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji asked the citizens of India to connect with the Mobile-Apps AarogyaSetu? Why WHO, Facebook, Chinese—WeChat, Baidu, Weibo and many other Apps of the World are trying to connect every individuals on this Planet Earth? Why Modiji wear the Manipuri Leirum (gamcha) and indicated the importance of Manipur? Why April 21-24, 2020 is the last date for deciding the extension or removal of the Worldwide COVID-19 Lock-Downs? Why some economically backward countries (e.g. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar etc.) are surprisingly having fewer COVID-19 cases, than the economically advanced countries? There are many classified questions, which cannot be covered in this article as of now. However, the questions asked by common-men are very simple and the answers should also be very simple.

Before we start, let us recollect the prophesied phrase, ‘It’s happening!’ by the famous seer, Nostradamus, and about the prediction of ‘the King—Chiren’! The predictions of the Vedic and the Mayan, also seems to be somewhat materialized. Yesterday news mentioned that a Mayan Workshop buried for more than 1000 years have been uncovered, but yet to be analyzed.

Discussions:
The answers to the various questions given above, may be little annoying to us, because it involved studies of both science and paranormal predictions. However, our inquisitiveness, will lead us to a dream world of ‘whether things are really happening or not’?

When we deal with the Universe—it is too big for us to even think about and to understand its existence. So let us, for the time being, concentrate only on our Solar System. Every one of us believed that the Sun is the main source of all the energies in our solar system. It gives us everything and without it—there will be no life forms in this mega-ecosphere. Well, how about the Moon, the Saturn, the Jupiter, the Mars, the Venus, the Mercury, the dark North Node and the dark South Node (in Vedic astrology they are called as Rahu and Ketu)? Do the planets have influences on our ecosphere?

The simple answer is ‘yes’ and obviously like our Sun, the planets also have different roles to play in our Solar System. It also impacted our planet earth and our daily (day-to-day) cycles. This is a very simple layman answer and as I am not an astronomer like Prof. Carl Sagan, it will be very difficult for me to explain about the conjunctions, attractions, combustions, etc. of the various planets studied in astronomy. However, based on my expertise on the atmosphere and ecosystem relationships, some doubt can be clarified as follows.

We know that the Sun gives life and dead to our planet earth. Other celestial bodies also have their roles to play in regenerating and ending of certain forms of living and non-living entities. In the present case, the ‘coronaviruses’ or any types of viruses or microorganisms are the transitions or ‘bridges’, between living and nonliving things. When microscopic virions entered the host cells through different vectors and received the following: (a) favorable environmental conditions and (b) energies to activate virions e.g. +ve, -ve along with a neutral charges (similar to our electric currents for lighting bulbs)—the nonliving virions become a very simple parasitic ‘Living Organisms’! In the case of the receiving energies, it can be potentially from the celestial bodies (Planets). The potentially strong celestial energies received on earth may also help trigger the germinations of even the ‘human’s sperms’ inside mother’s womb. Recently, I have coined a term as ‘Tiklak’, for such types of germination/s due to the major planetary influences. If the germination/s occurred in human, it will be seemingly impossible to understand, when, where, how, the birth will take place on this planet earth. However, in the near future we may come to know about the birth and the existence of a super-human, which is just the matter of time.

Thus, the ‘Great Conjunction’ of the most benefic planet Jupiter (+ve), most malefic planet Saturn (-ve) and a neutral North or South Node (Rahu or Ketu), will help in regenerating nonliving things (primordial soups) into living things (atma). When the conjunction takes place in a good house and environment, it will give us excellent or beneficial organisms (e.g. Pegivirus, Gamma-herpesviruses, Smallpox vaccine, Rama, Buddha, Jesus, Allah etc.), but if it happened in a bad environment or house, it will give us ‘demon’ (e.g. Coronavirus, SARS, Smallox, Commodus, Hitler, Ravana etc.)!

To further explain the concept, our planet earth’s atmosphere is crisscross by tremendous fields of geomagnetic and electromagnetic energies from the earth crust, mobiles, internets, telecommunications, radios, TVs, etc. These radiations interferes the incoming harmful or bombarding ‘Cosmic Rays’ in a very dramatic manner and sometime it acts like a ‘Shield’, protecting all the living organisms on this planet, for survival and from total annihilations!

On the more controversial note, it can be speculated (but not impossible) that there are about 7 gifted people on this planet (Vedic literatures also mentioned about Saptarishis), who have the unique and strong conjunctions of Jupiter, Saturn and Rahu/Ketu (JSR/K) in different houses of their natal birth chart (Navamsa) at the time of their birth. These 7 gifted individuals (Gurus), when combined together (even if living in very remote areas of the planet); they will form an energy shield, which can block the bombarding negative cosmic radiations of JSR/K.

In very simple details, we can take them as our own X-Men, who are genetically modified mutants and the coronaviruses will have very less impact on them and their surroundings. Their bodies may acts like a large ‘Lightning Rods’, absorbing the celestial strikes and be conducted to ground or dispersed it as harmless weak energies in their immediate surroundings. During the processes, they may or may not know anything about the absorbed energies; however, they may feel uncomfortable like headaches, nausea, vomiting or minor fever etc. They may be prone to sinusitis and early graying of hairs. Cloudy nights, high winds, rainy and thunderstorm days will bring them some respites. It is scientifically proven that during cloudy or thunderstorm periods, the radio, television and other signals are interrupted. Similarly, the celestial signals will be interrupted during various atmospheric phenomena. As the receiving celestial signals become weak at the surface, the 7 Gurus will also feel better. However, they cannot be regarded as aliens, for they cannot stop the bombarding rays from the planets; their role is to just absorb the weak celestial signal and disperse it into the environment. As of now, I don’t find any scientific evidence to support the fact that every one of us has the ability to absorb certain amounts of planetary signals. However, the astrological analysis of a person and the relationships between the various planets present during the time of birth, which are recorded in the horoscope are used for predicting a person personality. In the present scenario, many of us are not born during the time of JSR/K conjunction period. Therefore, the rare celestial occurrence, the simultaneous influences of the large planets and the larger signals received on the earth’s surface will have some detrimental effects within or outside of our body.   

On the contrary, if we are to search for the 7 Gurus (among the 9 billion populations of the World)—it will be like ‘searching a needle in hay stack’! The bad news is that the viruses as of now, are evolving and mutating in a dramatic way, that if we are not able to make a ‘Bridge of the 7 Gurus’, before April 21-24, 2020, the COVID-19 may evade our genetic tranquility and it may be the end of ‘Kali Yuga’ and the beginning of the famously called ‘Satya Yuga’!

The good news is that coronavirus is just a ‘bug’ and it can be tackled in the near future by developing vaccine/s. However, if a super-human (Tiklak) created by the great conjunction become materialized, then he will definitely try to bring changes (justices) on this planet, during our lifetime. About the consequences of the transitions between coronavirus and Tiklak, it cannot be foretell (as a mere human being)–but it is already mentioned in many religious and astrological books. The experience although, will be very exciting one!

Coming to our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, twice, he had asked his billion peoples of India to disperse the ever increasing bombardments of the celestial energies, firstly by clapping billion hands and secondly by lighting billion lamps (but not from electric current i.e. +ve, -ve and neutral), simultaneously. For the third and the final onslaught to the incoming negative energies, the whole World is asked to connect with various forms of Apps, Bluetooth, GPS or Social Medias. Correct information on the date-of-birth and place-of-birth are mandatory to receive the important information about COVID-19. In India, the government is asking everyone to connect through ‘AarogyaSetu’, meaning ‘the Restoration of the Bridge’, similar to ‘Rama Setu’ to kill ‘Ravana’. Can be say that the mammoth tasks of searching our 7 Gurus, worldwide are tirelessly undergoing? Comically, one drawback in India is that our actual date-of-birth is totally different from our academic date-of-birth e.g. 1st February.

Interestingly, while addressing the second lock downs of India on April 14, 2020, our PM wore a Manipuri Leirum (Gamcha), giving importance to the tiny state of Manipur. Does it meant that one of the strong energy signal i.e. the presence of a Guru, is received in the Radar of the Prime Minister Office, which may be located somewhere in Manipur? Earlier in my Facebook Posts, the importance of Manipur had been mentioned and looking for the JSR/K conjunction in the Navamsa chart people. On the other hand, unaware of the importance of himself/herself, our Heroes are roaming among us. Manipur is now a Zero COVID-19 State. Nostradamus prediction of ‘Chiren’, can it be ‘Chairen’?

Notably on April 17, 2020, according to the Daily Star reports, NASA is currently tracking an asteroid known as 2020 GT2, which is larger and faster than 2020 GR2. The 2020 GT2 measures about 177ft tall and fly past Earth at a speed of over 29,000 mph. NASA estimated that 2020 GT2 is expected to intersect Earth on April 17, 2020 at 1.07am on Saturday morning. So, our Solar System is becoming very excited and full of activities. Our Mother Earth too, is excited with two consecutive earthquakes, first in New Delhi with a Magnitude 3.5 on April 12, 2020 and secondly in Falam Myanmar, just few kilometers away from Manipur with a Magnitude 5.9 on April 16, 2020. On the other hand, since April 15, 2020, the atmosphere over Manipur seems to be celebrating something, without any casualty and giving relief to the drought like situation. Can we regard it as good omen?  

Conclusions:
All the living organisms on our planet Earth cannot survive without the Sun and other sources of energies. Lights if unfavorable—can change many metabolic, physiological, chemical, psychological or anatomical set-ups of living flora and fauna (e.g. circadian rhythm, growth pattern, DNA damages, mutations etc). Therefore, it is for kind information that on December 21, 2020 (mid austral summer in Antarctica and the darkest in the Arctic), the two great planets Jupiter and Saturn will have the ‘Great Conjunction’ in the house of Aquarius at 0.6 degree, the rarest conjunction after the year 1623. This rare conjunction may develop ‘radiation pollutions’ from malefic planets, which is still in the nascent stage of scientific research.

Recommendations:
As of now, please follow the instructions of the WHO, all the Governments, organization/institutions and also download/install AarogyaSetu Apps and other Apps. Observing social-distancing, using of face mask, hands washing and helping the doctors, the policemen, the CSOs, the frontline workers and the needy people etc.

Some personal suggestions are:
1. ‘Sky Watching’ (evening and nighttime) until February 2021 may affect our immune system functions due to high celestial radiations from malefic planets. Staying indoors during clear evening and night is suggested. Volunteers, workers and government personnel—wearing heavy cloths and caps during evening and night, will reduce the impacts of the incoming cosmic radiations.
2. Cloudy and rainy days and nights are safer than clear and bright days and nights. Lightning and thunder storms interfere, disperse, disrupt and minimize the impacts of the bombarding cosmic electromagnetic radiations from celestial bodies. Therefore, outing and playing during cloudy, rainy, sunny and windy days will be beneficial.
3. Indoor exercises, games and keeping our immune system intact, by eating/consuming fruits and vegetables (blue and yellow colors most preferably) will help in fighting the viruses.
4. Family prayers, Yoga (simple anoolom-viloom), meditations, fasting (recommended only for young and dynamic people), watching movies, mobile chatting, online-learning etc will help us overcome from Lock-Downs effects.

ENDNOTES: The article is shared with the hope of giving awareness to the general masses. Due to the urgency of the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the article focus purely on general reading, practice and knowledge sharing. Currently, the author is working continuously to make it more scientific—for future communication.
(The writer can be contacted at Email: gajkh@yahoo.com)